Assessment of Sexual Abstinence and the Use of Condom among Undergraduate Students (Youths) in Nigeria Universities

Abstract

The epidemic of pre - marital sex, teenage pregnancy, sporadic illegal abortion and widespread of sexually transmittable infections (STIs) can be traced to the out - growing rate of unprotected sex behaviour among the youths in Nigeria. Therefore, this cross cultural study explored and investigated the socio – cultural factors associated with sexual abstinence and the use of condom as control mechanisms of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) amongst the undergraduate students in some selected universities in Nigeria. It examined the views and beliefs of the youths about sexual abstinence and the use of condom as contraceptives. The study was conducted among the undergraduates in Twelve purposively selected universities, which cuts across the North, East and Southern part of Nigeria. The study period was from April 2015 to December, 2015. A self administered questionnaire (360) was given out and 345 questionnaires were returned among the undergraduate students in the selected universities in Nigeria. The study revealed that, the youths are aware of sexual abstinence and the use of condom as reliable ways to prevent sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy and many more; yet they do not apply it as a result of socio – cultural factors. The study found out that, sexual abstinence has a lot of implications on the youths’ development. At last, the study gave some recommendations on the use of sexual abstinence and condom as measures to prevent unwanted pregnancy, STIs and others.

Keywords: Abortion, Condom, Contraceptive, Infections, Sexual Abstinence, Unwanted pregnancy