Sexualpractices and factors affecting sexualoutcomes ofyoung peopleinOlukucommunity,OviaNorthEastlocalgovernmner,Edo State,Nigeria

Abstract

Background Youngpeopleconstitutesoneofthemostdynamichumanresourcebases, duetotheirstrengthandyouthfulnesstheypeoplebegintoexploretheir sexuality and have sexualrelationships thatmay have unfavourable outcomelikeunwantedpregnancies,abortions,STIsandHIV/AIDS. Objective Thisstudyaimstodeterminesexualpracticesandfactorsaffectingsexual outcomesamongyoungpeopleinOlukuCommunity,OviaNorthEast,Local Government,EdoState,SouthSouth,Nigeria. Methods Thiswasacross-sectionalstudyconductedbetweenJanuaryandJune, 2013.Itutilizedmulti-stagesamplingmethod.Datawascollectedusing intervieweradministeredquestionnaire. Results Atotalof400youngpeopleparticipatedinthisstudywithameanageof 17.8±3.9years.Sexdistributionshowedthereweremorefemales211 (52.8%)thanmales189(47.3).Themeanageforfemaleswas17.1years(SD=3.9years)andmaleswas 18.1years(SD=3.9years).Half(49.0%)ofyoungperson’sinOlukuhadexperiencedsexualintercourse, most154(79.4%))ofwhichwereunplanned.Theirfirstsexualexperienceoccurredbetweentheagesof 13to18years,withameanageof17.2±3.4years;mostwerewitholderpartnerswhowere neighbourhoodfriendsandschoolmates.Sixtyeightpercentofrespondentshavekissedatleastonceor more,73.7%havepracticedhuggingoverthelast6months.AthirdhashadpregnancyandSTIasan outcomeofasexualencounter,factorsaffectingoutcomeofsexualencounterwereage,youngerageof firstintercourse,sexandfamilystructure ConclusionandRecommendations Governmentandschoolsshouldhaveacontinuouspeereducationandtrainingonlifebuildingskillsfor youngpeoplesoastoincreasetheageofsexualdebutandreduceunfavourableoutcomesofunwanted pregnancyandSTIs.Also,theStateshouldestablishinstitutionalstructureslikeYouthfriendlycentresin Olukucommunitywhichwillhelptocoordinateandservetheneedsofyoungperson’sespeciallytheir sexual,reproductiveneedsandothersocialneeds.