Abstract:
Background: Human sexual behaviour is the way in which
humans experience and express their sexuality. It could be risky
and non-risky. Risky sexual behaviours including early sexual
debut, unprotected sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners
and having sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Objective: This study assessed the sexual practices and factors
associated with risky-sexual behaviour of the female students.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study involving 400
female students of the Plateau State Polytechnic. The subjects
were selected from all the departments using a two-stage
sampling technique. A pretested semi-structured self administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant
information from the subject. Analysis was done using IBM SPSS 22.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Sixty-four percent of the respondents had sexual
debut at age 19-23 years. Fifty-two percent had sex with only
one partner within the last six months while respondent's
sexual partners were mostly male. About 92% practiced vagina sex, 6.2% oral sex and 2.3% anal sex. Less than one-quarter and
19.2% of the study participants used condom always and did
negotiate for safer sex respectively. There was a significant
association between substance use and risky-sexual behaviour.
Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of risky-sexual
behaviours among the study cohort. These were seen from the
high percentage of the female students who had sexual debut
before the age of 18 years, unprotected sexual intercourse as
well as multiple sexual partners. Substance use, desire for
pleasure, expression of love, and quest for money were the
factors associated with sexual behaviour of the cohort.
