Student Demographics and Their Effects on Risky Sexual Behaviors and Poor Condom Use Pattern in Two Departments of a Nigerian University

Matthew J Okonta¹, Chukwuemeka M Ubaka^1, and Nnana O Arukwe²

¹Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

²Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of The Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Cite this paper

Matthew J Okonta, Chukwuemeka M Ubaka and Nnana O Arukwe. Student Demographics and Their Effects on Risky Sexual Behaviors and Poor Condom Use Pattern in Two Departments of a Nigerian University. American Journal of Public Health Research. 2013; 1(3):65-71. doi: 10.12691/AJPHR-1-3-2

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the level and association of demographic factors on risky sexual behaviors and pattern of condom use among students of a Nigerian university. Final and penultimate year students in University of Nigeria were recruited and purposively sampled. Using a well structured and pre-validated questionnaire, questions on HIV awareness, sexual experiences and condom use were asked and responses collected. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Exactly 524 students (mean age, 24 years; mean sexual debut age 19 years) participated. More females than male students had bisexual or homosexual partners (4.8% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.01); did not use a condom in the most recent sex (48.3% vs. 22.9%, p < 0.01) and in the last twelve months (31.5% vs. 11.7%, p < 0.05); had been forced for sex (23.2% vs. 18.7%, p < 0.05). More male students did not know their status (37.1% vs. 25.7%, p < 0.05); had oral and anal sex (41.3% vs. 27.3%, p < 0.01). As regards age at first sex, students who debuted earlier (≤ 19 years) performed oral/anal sex (53.6% vs. 40.1%, p < 0.05), did not use a condom during that first sex (70.1% vs. 45.4%, p < 0.01) and have had more than five sexual partners since then (38.5% vs. 10.1%, p < 0.01). This study showed that being male was associated with poor awareness of the virus and risky sexual behaviors and being female was associated with poor/inconsistent condom use. Also having started sex at an early age and being single was linked with risky behaviors. Such behaviors could be cautiously put in check by re-introducing HIV/AIDS prevention awareness strategies in universities.

Keywords

condom, gender, HIV, sexual behavior, students

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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