Associated Factors Mitigating Undergraduate Students of Ekiti State University, Ado – Ekiti , Nigeria Into Risky Sexual Behavior

Abstract

The study examined the associated factors related to risky sexual behavior among undergraduate students. Four hundred students aged 15-24 years (mean age 21.3years, SD 0.85) were recruited from Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria and completed personally administered questionnaire on parental rejection; peer group; depression; exposure to pornography and self-esteem. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts and simple percentage was used to analyze demographic data of the respondents, findings shows that 66.1% were between 15-19 years and 33.9% were between 20-24 years, this reflection that they were relatively young and sexually actives, this is confirmed by the National Demography Survey Data ( NDHS) which revealed that more than half (66.1%) of adolescents’ aged 15-19 were sexually active (NPC, 2009).  Inferential statistics of linear regression was used to analyze the data collected and findings indicated that parental rejection F-ratio was 2.305, P<0.05; peer group F-ratio was 2.503, P<0.05; depression F-ratio was 2.103, P<0.05; exposure to pornography F-ratio was 2.004, P<0.05 and self-esteem F-ratio was 2.201, P<0.05. Parental behavior and peer influence were the most mitigating variables associated with risky sexual behavior among undergraduate students. This paper call for peers to create a sense of normative behavior in which early debut, having multiple sexual partners, and inconsistent condom use may be supported or rejected by peers, thus becoming a peer group norm and comprehensive sex education programs that provide necessary sexual health knowledge about safe sex should be developed and implemented in Nigeria universities.

Keywords: Adolescents, Parental, Peers, Pornography, Depression, self-esteem.