ABSTRACT
Interest in the reproductive health of adolescents continues to grow through the world. Few studies had explored the issue on sexual extent of knowledge of STD female students in Nigeria. The objective of this descriptive survey was to collect data to plan appropriate interventions. Self administered questionnaire were used for the respondents and data collected was restricted to demographic profile, sexual behaviour and knowledge of sexually transmitted disease including HIV/AIDS. Majority of the respondents attributed their attitude toward sexuality were positive. The higher the level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS of the student respondents the more positive attitude to premarital sex, prostitution and multiple sexual partners and sex education. The out of school respondents were found to be more sexually active, have earlier sexual exposure and there is low and infrequent use of condom among sexually active ones. Their general knowledge of STD/HIV/AIDS is not only hazy and inadequate but also shrouded in misconceptions and strong emotion. The mean age of the respondent was 15.8 yrs there were slightly more males 52.4% than female 47.6%, 6.2% of the entire student have sexual experience 8.9% of in school and 17.4% of out of school respondents have had sexual experiences. The study reveals an student population that is vulnerable and at increase risk of STDs/HIV infection as a result of their sexual behaviours and knowledge.
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
Developing strategies to address the reproductive health needs and concerns of the female students in Nigeria poses a major public health challenge. One of the factors contributing to this challenge is the sheer size of the female student population in the country. Female students account for a significant proportion (20%) of Nigeria's population of 140 million.2 The second challenge is that a significant proportion of the Nigerian female students engage in risky practices including unprotected sex with multiple partners Individuals researchers and non-govern-mental youth serving organizations (YSO) have responded to these challenges by implementing several reproductive health promotion programs to increase female students' knowledge of reproduction, HIV/AIDS and influence risky sexual behaviors targeting on campus and out-of school female students.6,7 Despite these efforts, the reproductive health needs of the majority of female students remain neglected because these programs have been implemented on a small scale, are of limited duration, and are concentrated in urban areas, even though the majority of female students live in rural communities.
Although schools are important potential sources of reproductive health education for female students, these institutions have not reached their full potential because the Nigerian government has not yet formally introduced reproductive health education into existing curricula. As a result, all school-based reproductive health programs have utilized an extra-curricular approach including peer education in which trained students inform, counsel, and distribute non-prescriptive contraceptives to their colleagues. Other school- based programs have trained teachers who deliver reproductive health education including HIV/AIDS prevention as part of extra-curricula activities on campuss.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
General objective
To determine the sexual behavior and knowledge of sexually transmitted disease including HIV/AIDS among female students in UNIZIK L.G.A Anambra State.
Specific objectives
1. To determine the extent of knowledge on sexually transmitted disease including HIV/AIDS.
2. To determine the attitude of the female students to premarital sex, multiple sexual partners and use of preventive methods against sexually transmitted infections.
3. To determine the attitude of the female students to HIV/AIDS victim in relation to their knowledge on STDs/AIDS.
Significance Of The Study
Interest in the reproductive health of female students continues to grow throughout the world. One of the factors responsible for this interest is the sheer number of young persons worldwide. For example, nearly half of the global population is less than 25 years old.1
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The issue of sexuality in this environment is very sensitive, and is considered private so there is possibility of concealment of vital information. To overcome this rationale of the study was carefully explained to each participant and confidentiality issues ware emphasized.
Addressing the reproductive health information and service needs of this population poses significant challenges for policy makers and service providers especially those working in resource poor settings. The fact that female students and other young persons are disproportionately affected by the reproductive health morbidity such as abortion, sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV/AIDS draws attention to the need of appropriate interventions. Female students account for a significant proportion of unsafe abortions globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) at least one-third of all women seeking hospital-care for abortion complications are under the age of 20 years.2
Female students are also one of the groups hard hit by HIV/AIDS. Over half of all new HIV infections in Africa in 2005 were among young persons aged 14–25 years with the worst hit being young women.3
These data underscore the need to target female students with appropriate interventions that address not only the contextual factors such as gender roles and poverty that place them at risk but also individual factors including lack of access to knowledge, inadequate communication and life skills that female students need to negotiate safe sex.
In Nigeria, as elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, studies confirm that a large proportion of female students have unmet reproductive health needs.
Evidence of unmet need is reflected in the fact that some female students and other young persons lack adequate knowledge and understanding of the reproductive process, that many harbor misconceptions such as the belief that mosquitoes can transmit HIV infection, and false claims that use of contraceptives can cause infertility.4
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Item Type: Project Material | Size: 76 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
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