1.1 Introduction
Sexuality Education is sometimes called sex education. It is also about developing young people’s skills so that they make good choices. Sexuality Education is a broad term used to describe the study of the characteristics of beings; a male and a female. Such characteristics make up the person’s sexuality (Burt 2011). Sexuality Education is the acquisition of knowledge that deals with human sexuality. It consists of instruction on the development of an understanding of the physical, mental, emotional, social, economic and psychological phases of human relations as they are affected by sex in other words, Sexuality Education involves providing children with knowledge and concept that will enable them make informed and responsible decisions about sexual behaviors at all stages of their lives (Abogunri, 2005).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Sex education is enlightenment on issues to human sexuality which includes emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, reproductive health, reproductive rights, safe sex, birth control ad sexual abstinence. According to the English Dictionary, unprotected sex is an act of sexual intercourse or sodomy performed without the use of a condom, thus involving the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. It was discovered that teenage girls are 35% more likely than boys to have unprotected sex the first time they have sexual intercourse regardless of any previous sex education instruction. Boys generally have been thought to be more liable to risky behaviors, such as engaging in unprotected sex.
In Nigeria, problems linked with adolescents’ sexual health comprise high rates of teenage pregnancy; a rising event of sexually transmitted diseases, high rates of abortion mortality and more. Medical problems associated with adolescents’ sexual behaviour are a major health burden to Nigerians. Problems are not limited to pregnancy; it includes secondary infertility and development of cervical abnormalities in adolescents. Early and unprotected sexual activity has negative consequences for young people, adolescents precisely.
Adolescents who become sexually active often fall victim of high-risk behaviour that leads to physical and emotional damage. Each year, influenced by a combination of a youthful assumption of invincibility, and a lack of guidance, millions of adolescents ignore those risks and suffer the consequences. Young men who have sex with men are liable to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. It was discovered that individuals infected with an STD are at least two to five times more likely than uninfected individuals to acquire HIV if exposed to the virus through sexual contact. One study found that among gay male clinic patients screened for STDs, those 15 to 20 years old had the highest age-specific rates of rectal Chlamydia and gonorrhea. Sexual activity has consequences. Though the teen birth rate has declined to its lowest levels since data collection began, the United States still has the highest teen birth rate in the industrialized world. Roughly one in four girls will become pregnant at least once by their 20th birthday. Teenage mothers are less likely to finish high school and are more likely than their peers to live in poverty, depend on public assistance, and be in poor health. Their children are more likely to suffer health and cognitive disadvantages, come in contact with the child welfare and correctional systems, live in poverty, drop out of high school and become teen parents themselves.
Comprehensive sex education programs show that these programs can help youth delay onset of sexual activity, reduce the frequency of sexual activity, reduce number of sexual partners, and increase condom and contraceptive use. Importantly, the evidence shows youth who receive comprehensive sex education are NOT more likely to become sexually active, increase sexual activity, or experience negative sexual health outcomes. School-based programes are an essential avenue for providing sexual health education to young people in the society. However, sex education is considered as a top priority for the educators, public health professionals, and others who are committed to providing high quality sexual health education in schools and other community settings are often asked to explain the rationale, philosophy, and content of providing existing sexual health education programs to avert risky behaviour later in their lifetime.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Sexuality Education in Reducing Unprotected Intercourse among Adolescents.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that 35% of teenage girls have unprotected sex the first time they have sexual intercourse regardless of any sex education instruction and Youth who do not receive comprehensive sex education are more likely to become sexually active, increase sexual activity, or experience negative sexual health outcomes. Adolescents problems are rooted to the background of their upbringing which is the main causes of the risky sexual behaviour which they exhibits within and outsides the society.
Many parents lack knowledge on when and how to start teaching their children about sex. They also do not know the importance of Sexuality Education. In some cultures, Sexuality Education is seen as taboo. The failures of sex education prompted wrong signal which is the risky behaviour exhibited both the household women and the adolescence which affect their reproductive system later in life.
Apart from unwanted pregnancy resulting from unprotected sexual intercourse as an under-age parents, as a result of semi-formal or lack of sex education through the protracted stage of any of the deadly attracted diseases among the subject in question which cannot be overemphasized due to complete lack of treatment to expunge all forms of diseases in the body of the adolescence.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Impact of Sexuality Education in Reducing Unprotected Intercourse among Adolescents in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine whether Sex Education Intervention Programme would reduce at-risk sexual behaviours of school-going adolescents;
- To determine the level of sexual abstinence among adolescents in secondary schools;
- To suggest the need for effective sex education for adolescents in the area under study; and
- To find out if adolescents who receive comprehensive sex education are more likely to become sexually active, increase sexual activity, experience negative sexual health outcomes or not.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does adolescents who receive comprehensive sex education are more likely to become sexually active, increase sexual activity, experience negative sexual health outcomes or not?
- Would Sex Education Intervention Programme reduce at-risk sexual behaviours of school-going adolescents?
- What is the need for effective sex education for adolescents in the area under study?
- What is the level of sexual abstinence among adolescents in secondary schools?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant gender difference and adolescents’ risky sexual behaviour in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State
- H1: There is significant gender difference and adolescents’ risky sexual behaviour in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State
Hypothesis One
- H0: Sex Education Intervention Programme does not reduce sexual behaviours of school-going adolescents in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State
- H1: Sex Education Intervention Programme reduces sexual behaviours of school-going adolescents in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State
1.7 Significance of Study
This research work will encourage young people to tell the truth, using computers instead of face-to-face interviews. Comprehensive sex education programs show that these programs can help youth delay onset of sexual activity, reduce the frequency of sexual activity, reduce number of sexual partners, and increase condom and contraceptive use.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Impact of Sexuality Education in Reducing Unprotected Intercourse among Adolescents in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Sexuality Education: It refers to the knowledge of participants with regard to sexual activities including safe and protected sexual intercourse, knowledge of STDs, and unprotected sexual intercourse.
Education: Education is viewed as the process of inviting truth and possibility. It is the wise, hopeful and respectful cultivation of learning undertaken in the belief that all should have the chance to share in life.
Adolescents: Refers to students between the ages ranges of 13 years old to 19 years old in secondary schools.
Gender: Refers to masculinity and femininity. It is dichotomized into male and female sex.
Sexuality: Sexuality includes our sexual orientation (heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual).
Intercourse: the act carried out for procreation or for pleasure in which, typically, the insertion of the male's erect penis into the female's vagina is followed by rhythmic thrusting usually culminating in orgasm; copulation; coitus related adjective venereal
Unprotected Intercourse: unprotected sex is an act of sexual intercourse or sodomy performed without the use of a condom, thus involving the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
