ABSTRACT
This project examined the Attitude of Secondary Schools Students towards Sex Education in Some Selected Secondary School in Oyo East Local Government, Oyo. Random sampling was used to select one hundred and sixty (160) respondents as samples for the study, 40 respondents from each school in the four (4) selected secondary school. Questionnaire was used as research instrument, it was designed and administered in the study area. The data collected was analyzed statistically with chi-square method. From the study, it was established that most, students especially female students over rely on peer groups for sexual information and thus influence abuse of contraceptives. Sexual information provided by mass media has an influence on Religion and also students rely on their parents as regards sex education, therefore, it was recommended that sex education should be included in the curriculum at all level of education in order to eradicate all forms of sexual assault.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The need for sexuality education in schools has become indispensable in today’s contemporary society. While many societies and cultures around the world are yet to consent to the introduction of sex education in schools mostly because of their socio- cultural background, belief system, political system, religion etc some countries see sex education as a gateway, to deal with issues related to reproductive health and sexual preference among teenagers. Sexual health is one of five core aspects of the WHO global reproductive health strategy approved by the World Health Assembly in 2004 (WHO, 2004).
According to WHO, sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviour, practices and relationships. While sexuality can includes all of these dimensions not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, ethnical, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors (WHO, 2006). Collins (2008), argued that sexuality education encompasses education about all aspects of sexuality including information about family planning, reproduction, body image, sexual orientation, sexual pleasure, values, decision making, communication, dating, relationships, sexually transmitted infections and how to avoid them and birth control method.
Schools is a privileged setting for formal articulate sex education as children and adolescent spent a considerable amount of their time at school and other agents of sex education like the internet and other media can often provide non-structured education. First love experiences occur at school age, and school has human and material resources for providing education. Sex education at schools are contributes to its promotion in the home environment. Sex education programs have been shown to delay sexual initiation or increase condom use among those who are already sexually active. A recent Portuguese study reported that nearly 90% of those surveyed said sex education at school was very important and 87% believed it should be mandatory.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
About 50% of the world’s population is under the age of 20 years and are at the highest risk of sexual and reproductive health problem, thus making sexuality the root of most sexual and reproductive health problems (Briggs, 1999). According to a united nation report, 56% and 15% of females within the age cohort of 15-19 years and 20-24 years respectively are unmarried out of which a total of 18 million people within the age group 15-24 years make 19% of Nigeria’s population (Ayangade, 1984). About one million teenage girls annually get pregnant with resultant 44% births, 50% of these drop out of school and 50% are unmarried, and young mother placing infants at enormous health risk. Adolescence indulgence in high risk sexual behaviour consciously or unconsciously often result in unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion HIV/STDs infections, single/early parenthood and school dropout.
This has contributed to the poor health indices in Nigeria. It is on this note that the researcher intends to ascertain attitude of secondary school students towards sex education in some selected secondary schools in Oyo East Local Government Area of Oyo State.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the attitude of secondary school students to sex education in some selected secondary school in Oyo East Local Government. However, this study is directed towards achieving the objectives below:
- To itemize the various factors behind various sexual problem.
- To describe the rationale behind premarital sex
- To proffer ways by which complicated marriages are avoided
- To make people see the negative effect of premarital sex.
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
- Peer group will not significantly affect the attitude of secondary schools students towards sex education.
- Religion will not significantly affect the attitude of secondary schools students towards sex education.
- Mass media will not significantly affect the attitude of secondary schools students towards sex education.
- Parent will not significantly affect the attitude of secondary school students towards sex education.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research study is hoped to be valuable to every students in Nigeria, particularly the secondary students in Oyo East Local Government, Oyo. This study is significant in the following areas.
- It will alleviate the crisis of adolescent pregnancies and subsequent abortion.
- It will help to prepare the young ones for the marital life in future and enable long lasting marriage.
- It will help to encourage the parents to successfully convey sex information, values and attitude to their children.
- It will also serve as a shortcut literature to provide necessary sexual information to the youths to effect a better sexual adjustment among them.
1.6 DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study was delimited to the following:
- The descriptive research design
- Independent variables of peers group, religion, mass media, parent and dependent variables of attitude.
- Secondary school’s students in Oyo East Local Government.
- Self developed questionnaire
- The descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentages and inferential statistics of chi-square.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Sex:- Means sexual intercourse between a boy and a girl.
Sex Education:- It means an educational programme designed to provide the learners adequate and accurate knowledge on sex.
Teenage Pregnancy:- It is the sexual practices of a teenager resulting in pregnancy and parenthood.
Adolescence:- It is the onset of puberty which is characterized by menarche for the girls and voice breaking.
Contraception:- It means prevention of pregnancy and conception.
Abortion:- It is the means of getting rid of a baby to avoid conception.
Premarital Sex:- Sexual intercourse before marriage.
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