SEXUAL ATTITUDE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

SEXUAL ATTITUDE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The study examined and determined sexual activities of the selected Senior Secondary School Students in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The actual aim of the study was to identify the attitudes of Senior Secondary School Students to sexual matters so as to serve as basis for the introduction of sex education in our secondary schools.

Based on the foregoing purpose, five questions were raised and favour null hypotheses are postulated.

Six Secondary Schools were randomly sampled in Ikorodu Local Government. The 180 students composed of 90 randomly selected schools in the local government Area.

A questionnaire consisting of eighteen items was used. Test-retest reliability of the instrument was chi-square. 2×2 contingency statistical samples were used to test the four hypothesis postulated at 0.05 level significance.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The secondary school is the unit of Nigeria’s formal education institution, which covers the period of later childhood through adolescent. During this period, the child experiences accelerated rate of development in secondary sex attributes.

These include broken voice, natural emission in boy and enlarged breast in girls; armpit and public hairs in boys and girls and the development of heterosexual interests, coupled with this, is elongated and expansion of penis, enlargement of testis and other primary sex organs (New Jersey, 1980).

The Secondary School age or adolescent stage is the period of identifying oneself to a total person. It is the period or stage in which the individual adolescent asks questions about themselves. The search for answers involves much explanation, question and seeking supportive figures. Peers are mostly the supporter because they are the ones with whom the lines of communication are most open. Parental influence therefore, may seem to be minimal while peers influence is stronger.

1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

According to history, sexual activities have served as means of expressing some mankind’s best and worst emotion (Read and Greene, 1975)

A cursory review of human activities extending from the beginning of recorded history throughout the Dark Age and renaissance reveals the instances of Rape, adultery and illegitimacy (Greene, 1975)

The situation has not changed much in contemporary time. Efforts are however being made  by health education experts, religious leaders, youth clubs and organisation to bring a positive attitude change in people education of children and youths about their sexually and appropriate sex roles.

The sex life of Senior Secondary School (SSS) students poses a social problem which society has ignored primarily because it has workable and acceptable answer (Grauley Stewart Diaz 1973).

The youths of this generation have more opportunity than ever before to indulge sexual intercourse because three controlling fears of the past, social disgrace, venereal disease, unwanted pregnancy have been reduced by breakthrough in medicine and related discipline. Also diversified job opportunities enable parents to travel great distance for better career and recreation. This reduced the effectiveness of family and community supervision of the adolescent (Grauley et al 1973).

SEXUAL ATTITUDE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGERIA