ATTITUDE OF ADOLESCENTS TOWARDS SEXUAL ACTIVITIES IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ILORIN EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE

ABSTRACT

        The study investigated the attitude of adolescents towards sexual activities in selected secondary schools in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Data were collected from 200 randomly selected students using survey questionnaire on “Attitude of Adolescents toward Sexual Activities Questionnaire.(AASAQ).” Data collected were analysis using frequency counts, percentage and t-test.

        The results indicated that students were influenced by factors such as parents, socio-economic status, age, location and social peer group. The comparison shown that there were significant differences in the factors influencing the premarital sexual activities of students on the basis of age, parents’ occupation and education. But no significant difference was found on the basis of sex.

        On the basis of these findings, it was recommended that parents should conduct themselves in a way to serve as models to their children. They should also create time to guide their children.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS                                                              PAGE

TITLE PAGE                                                             i      

CERTIFICATION                                                       ii

DEDICATION                                                           iii    

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS                                          iv

ABSTRACT                                                               vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                             vii

LIST OF TABLES                                                      x     

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

Background to the Problem                                     1

Statement of the Problem                                        8

Purpose of the Study                                               9

General Questions                                                   10

Research Questions                                                 11

Research Hypotheses                                               12

Significance of the Study                                                 12

Delimitation and Scope of the Study                               14

Definition of Terms (Operational Definitions)           14

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Moral Issues and Sexual Behaviour                         16

Sexual Activity                                                                 21

Factor Affecting Sexual Activities                             25

Appraisal of the Related Literature                           26

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Type                                                         28

Population                                                               28

Sample and Sampling Procedure                             29

Instrumentation                                                       29

Validity of Instrument                                              30

Reliability of the Instrument                                    31

Administration of the Instrument                            31

Method of Data Analysis                                          31   

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Results                                                                    32

Hypotheses Testing                                                  34

Discussion of the Findings                                      38   

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND

  RECOMMENDATION

Summary                                                                 42

Conclusion                                                              43

Implications of the Study                                         44

Recommendations                                                   45

Limitations to the Study                                          46

Suggestion for further studies                                  46

REFERENCES                                                         48

APPENDIX                                                              

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1:    Distribution of Respondents by Sex         32

Table 2:    Distribution of Respondents by Age         33

Table 3:    Distribution of Respondents by Parents Occupation      33

Table 4:    Distribution of Respondents by Parental Educational      34

Table 5:    Result of t-test comparing students Responses by Sex   34

Table 6:    Result of t-test Comparing Students Responses by Age         35

Table 7:    Result of t-test Comparing Students Responses by Parental Occupation          36

Table 8:    Result of t-test comparing Students Responses by Parental Education            37

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

        “Sexual permssiveness” or what Oshunrinde (1992) called “the growing rate of sexual irresponsibility’s especially among youths” seem to be on the increase. In her own opinion, Adelaya (1986) asserted that modern day Nigerians have made sex one of the most discussed subjects. She also noted that our forefathers pretended as if sex does not exist by placing some taboos on it, whereas modern Nigerians pretend that nothing else exists other than sex.

        Increasing rate of teenage sexual activity can be substantiated by numerous reports of unintended pregnancies, illegal abortion and dumping of unwanted babies (Owuamanam, 1984). According to him, there is also visible evidence of different forms of sexual aberrations among Nigerian youths as demonstrated by cases of prostitution, illegitimacy and sexual exploitation including rape. Owuamanam (1984) explained that the present time can be described as a period of “sex exposition” and “sex permissiveness” Sofola (1990), discussing on the sexual sex as no more sanctity and it is no more a big deal. This is why it happens anywhere, on the lawn, under a tree, in the boot of a car or in the classroom.

        The tragedy of youth sexuality is that young people engage in sexual activities with limited knowledge of what is involved. Providing authentic sex information through counselling and sex education is an aspect of sexuality that ought to engage society’s attention rather than youth’s participation in the activities.

        In the pursuit of education, students leave their home for school and are no longer under the strict supervision of their parents. Most of them get exposed to western life styles more than ever and thus get engaged in premarital sexual affairs which they regard as due marks of civilization. Nigeria youths, according to Elimian (1985), are rarely exposed to sex through pomography in imported films, books, magazine, T.V. without a proper sense of responsibility. One has the feelings that since the advent of various contraceptives, there has been an increasing pressure on female youths to be more casual about sexual relationship.

        According to the result of an intense in-depth survey carried out, premarital and extramarital intercourse is relatively common among Yoruba men and women, with the men reporting consistently more sexual partners and more frequent intercourse than women (Orubuloye, Caldwell and Caldwell, 1991). The investigator commented that this level of sexual networking is so high that the society is dangerously exposed to sexual transmitted diseases.

        The sexual behaviour of youths have been of particular interest and the conception has been that adolescence is a period of intense sexual drive and experimentation (Owuamanam, 1982). However, although Soyinka (1979) was of the view that the “importance of purity” before marriage is fast dying out in Nigeria, Owuamanam (1982) stated that the issue of sexual revolution among Nigerian adolescents is a matter of speculation as a relatively few empirical studies have been carried out on Nigerian adolescents’ sexual behaviours.

        Although, sexuality can be explained within a biological and developmental framework, it is equally important to search for cultural and social correlates. It may therefore be erroneous to view adolescence across cultural and social boundaries and expect to find similar sexual behaviour (Owuamanam, 1982). In fact, as Grinder (1973) rightly pointed out, the meaning of sex for various people depends upon the social context in which it develops. Also, related to this is time or period of studies. The behaviour of an individual one year ago may be different from his behaviour this year. Research evident abounds, indicating that adolescents are changing in their attitudes to sexual behaviour (Coleman, 1980). Essentially, if comparisons are drawn between the attitudes of adolescence today and those of adolescents twenty or thirty years ago, there will be important differences.

        Adolescent of today seem to value sexual activities more than their counterparts in the yesteryears. Conger (1983) observed:

        Of all the developmental events of adolescence, the most dramatic is the increase in sexual drive and the new and often mysterious feelings and thought that accompany integration of sexuality with other aspects of the emerging sense of self without having to undergo too much conflict and anxiety in contemporary society with its changing sex roles and peculiar mixture of permissiveness and prudery. This is not an easy task to master.

        Many adults, according to Kaplan (1983), view adolescent sexuality as behaviour comparable to using illegal drugs. To them (i.e. to the adults), these behaviours are morally wrong, dangerous to the persons involved and are signs of the young person’s rebellion against adults. Adolescents on other hand, see sex as a behaving like adults and exercising their right to explore and understand their own bodies. Adolescent sexuality thus represents another source of conflict with the adults’ society (Owuamanam, 1984). Adolescents find adult sanction against their sexuality difficult to acceptance adults themselves are engaging in the same acts and in fact most often find their sexuality difficult to handle responsibly. The adults too often go against the codes of responsible adults’ sexuality by engaging in extra-marital sexual behaviour.

        As it has been repeatedly stated in this proposal sexual activities among youths appear to be more prevalent today than ever. An increase in liberal attitudes and sexual awareness among teenagers has resulted in the association of our correct teenage population with a “sexual revolution” (Owuamanam 1982). Pregnancy, abortion, contraception and venereal diseases (V.D), and even AIDS/HIV infection are issues in this “revolution”.

        While two declares age, teenagers were reaching reproductive maturity at the age of 17 to 18, which was about the time they were also becoming intellectually mature, today these two events are completely dissociated (Short, 1974). Now, sexual maturity and inset of sexual interests now precede the intellectual maturity.

        Other influential factors that enhance “sexual revolution”, according to Serderowitz and Paxman (1985) Are earlier initiation of sexual activity; social change and modernization including educational opportunities; a lengthening of the socially defined period of adolescence; increase in the percentages of sexually active females particularly unmarried adolescents; delayed age at married; and relaxation of the traditional family’s constraints on sexuality.

Statement of the Problem