A Review of Sexual Initiation, Associated Risk Factors and Contraceptive Use Among Female Secondary School Students in Nigeria

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background: Early initiation of sex is commonly defined as having had first sexual intercourse at or before age 14. It exposes young people to many sexual and reproductive health problems. Youth who begin early sexual activity are more likely to practise risky sexual behaviours, such as having multiple sexual partners and incorrect or inconsistent contraceptive use. Objective: This study aimed to describe the prevalence and risk factors of early sexual initiation and the prevalence of contraceptive use among the female students in Nigeria. Findings: Globally, adolescents and youth represent a growing share of people living with HIV/AIDS. Each year, 670,000 youths are infected with HIV. Of these, 250,000 are adolescents, and 16 million of the adolescents give birth. In Africa, a high proportion of unsafe abortions are among adolescents and young women. About 60% of the unsafe abortions occur among women under 25 years. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013 revealed that 16% of young women and 6% of young men aged 15–24 years initiated sexual activity before age 15. About half of young women (49%) and more than a quarter of young men (26%) aged 18–24 years had first sexual intercourse before the age of 18. Despite risky sexual behaviours and increased sexual activities among adolescents, adequate health education is lacking, and contraceptive use remains low in both their first and last sexual encounters. In tandem with this is the high prevalence of reported experience of sexually transmitted diseases, reliance on unsafe abortion and many abortion-related complications. Conclusion: Early initiation of sexual activity among females in secondary schools prolongs the period of exposure to risk of pregnancy during the reproductive span. It often leads to early marriage and childbearing.