Sexuality and Contraceptive Use Among Adolescent
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among adolescents
- To ascertain the association between the frequency of sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among female adolescents
- To ascertain the relationship between the type of sexual partners and contraceptive use among female adolescents
- To determine the frequency of sexual activity among adolescent in Nigeria
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
THE NATURE OF ADOLESCENCE
In order to understand adolescent’s sexuality and how it affects their sexual and reproductive behavior it is important to understand how adolescents behave and why. Adolescence is a unique stage of development marking the crucial transition from childhood to adulthood not only biologically but also socially and psychologically. y At the biological level, bodily changes begin to take place when the hypothalamus part of the brain signals the pituitary gland to release hormones called gonadotrophine into the bloodstream. These hormones stimulate increased production of oestrogen in girls and androgens in boys, which in turn stimulate physical changes such as growth of facial hair in boys and breasts in girls. The changes are usually so marked that the adolescent inevitably compares herself or himself with others and worries about his or her adequacy (Bloss, 1962). Hormonal changes also lead to sudden changes in mood among adolescents. At puberty teenagers begin to be viewed not as children and certainly not as adults, but it is their aspiration to advance into adulthood and gain independence. Profound psychological changes occur during adolescence, the main ones being sudden interest in the opposite sex and desire for affection and acceptance. Many theories have been proposed to explain adolescent behaviour. Sigmund Frued,(1953) a psychosexual theorist, viewed adolescents as a stage characterized by a reawakening of sexual energies of earlier stages (oral, anal, and phallic stages). Hormonal changes lead to the emergence of irrational behaviour and the adolescent must learn the social skills necessary to initiate peer relationships essential for developing a fully functioning adult sexuality. Anna Freud (1969) argued that the course of maturation influences all behaviour. To her, adolescence cannot be emotionally painless. Bloss (1962), another theorist of the same school posits that formation of the individual self at adolescence involves learning to sever emotional ties with parents. The individual recognizes that gratification of emotional and sexual needs must be sought from outside the family. Other theorists have taken into account the influence of social cultural environment in shaping adolescent sexuality. Learner and Spanier’s (1980) on sexual socialization theory postulates that sexual roles are developed through the socialization process which encourages and rewards some behaviour while discouraging and punishing others. Sex roles development entails learning how to be psychologically masculine or feminine. Sexual behaviour has also been regarded as one of the key way through which adolescents begin to emotionally leave the family and move towards independence. Successful steps to this end heighten independence of self-esteem and confidence. A biosocial model by Smith (1989) blends biological and psychosocial influences in explaining sexual behaviour.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to sexuality and contraceptive use among adolescent
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information sexuality and contraceptive use among adolescent. 200 students of selected secondary schools in Enugu south local government of Enugu state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain sexuality and contraceptive use among adolescent
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of sexuality and contraceptive use among adolescent
Summary
This study was sexuality and contraceptive use among adolescent. Four objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among adolescents, to ascertain the association between the frequency of sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among female adolescents, to ascertain the relationship between the type of sexual partners and contraceptive use among female adolescents, to determine the frequency of sexual activity among adolescent in Nigeria. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 students of selected secondary school in Enugu south local government of Enugu state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up sss 3 students, sss 2 students, sss1 students and jss 3 students were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
In Nigeria, family planning services are available in many hospitals, clinics and dispensaries. However, these services are available only to adults and married women. Sexually active adolescents are therefore disadvantaged as far as access to family planning services is concerned. This lack of access promotes their inadequate use of family planning methods. Although contraceptive use among adolescents has been highly criticized, government officials, NGO’s community leaders, church leaders and parents need to provide alternative solutions to the high pregnancy and school drop-out rates among adolescents. Health and family planning service providers should be more accommodative of adolescents’ needs. They should be educated on the need to provide support to adolescents in their efforts to minimize the adverse effects of early and unprotected sex on their lives.
Recommendation
The following are therefore some of the policy recommendations that should be undertaken:
- Create a safe, supported passage for girls from ages 10 to 19, recognizing that recognizing second decade of their lives is a period of critical capability-building and heightened vulnerability, which does not end with marriage and childbearing.
- Acknowledge that adolescent girls’ lives are often governed’ harmful, culturally sanctioned gender rules imposed by males, parents, and other elders and perpetuated at times by girls themselves.
- Expand girls’ social participation, schooling, and economic opportunities, understanding that these are basic entitlements and that they frame girls, reproductive behaviour.
REFERENCES
- Ajayi, A.A., Murangu L. T, Paxman J M. 1991, ‘Adolescent Sexuality and Fertility in Kenya. A Survey of Knowledge, Perceptions and Practices’. Studies in Family Planning, 1991. 22 (2).
- Aggarawal, V.P and Mati, J K G 1980. ‘Review of Abortion at Kenyatta National Hospital’, East Africa Medical Journal.
- Aggarawal, V.P and Mati, J K G 1992. ‘Epidemiology of induced in Nairobi. Kenya’. Journal of Obstretics Gynecology of East Africa.
- Ajzen, I and M.Fishbein 1980. ‘Understanding attitudes and predicting social behaviour’, Englewood Cliffs. NJ, Prentice Hall.
- Barker, G and Rich S, 1992. Influences on adolescent sexuality in Nigeria and Kenya’. Studies in Family Planning 23,3. r‘/
- Barker G and Rich S. 1990, ‘Adolescent Fertility in Kenya and Nigeria. Final Report for a Study Tour Conducted in June-Julv 1990.’ Washington DC. The Center for Population Options, and the Population Crisis Committee. 1990.
