Sexual and Reproductive Health Practices among In-School Female Adolescents in Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine sexual reproductive health practices among in-school female adolescents in Idemili North LGA, Anambra State. Eight specific objectives with eight corresponding research questions and six null hypotheses guided the study. The study utilized descriptive survey research design. The population for the study was all the in-school female adolescent numbering 6,021. A sample of 400 students was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was 15-item structured questionnaire on SRH practices. Ten items on the questionnaire were on safe and unsafe sex practices and 5 were on contraceptives use of sexual and reproductive health practices of adolescent. Frequency and percentages were employed to analyze research questions. Chi-square statistics was used to test the null hypotheses. Findings showed that in-school female adolescents 36.6 per cent engaged in safe sex practices and 25.7 per cent engaged in unsafe sex practices. Also 12.0 per cent of in-school female adolescent used contraceptives. There was a significant difference in the proportion of in-school female adolescent that engaged in safe sex and unsafe sex based on age (p<.05) and no significant difference existed in the proportion of in-school female adolescent that used contraceptives (p>.05). There were significant differences in the proportion of in-school female adolescents that engaged in safe sex and unsafe sex practices based on class and religion (p>.05). There was a significant difference in the proportion of in-school female adolescents that used contraceptives based on age and class (p<.05). Based on these findings, it was recommended that there was need for government, school authorities and Anambra State Secondary Education Board to expand and intensify sex education for in-school female adolescent.