K Sabitu1, Z Iliyasu, S E Baba. 1. Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. kssabitu@yahoo.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Increasing sexual networking among university students exposes them to the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS. Despite this, the level of condom use and sexual abstinence is low. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to describe sexual behavior and identify predictors of condom use among students in a Nigerian university. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires among 404 students of the Federal university of Technology, Minna in northern Nigeria. FINDINGS: A total of 328 (81.2%) questionnaires were completed and returned. There were 230 male and 98 female respondents giving a sex ratio of 1:2.3. The respondent's ages ranged from 16 to 38 years with an overall mean of 23.53.51 years. A significantly higher proportion of males 184 (80.0%) reported being sexually experienced compared to 64 (65.0%) females (chi2 = 8.05 P < 0.05). The mean age of first sexual experience was also significantly higher among male students [18.92.1 years] compared to female students [16.41.7 years] (t = 11.36, P < 0.01). Similarly, a significantly higher proportion (56.2%) of sexually active males had multiple partners compared to females (38.1%) (chi2 = 11.9, P = 0.001). In addition, the mean number of lifetime sexual partners was significantly higher (5.3) for males compared to females (2.6) [t = 12.0, P < 0.001]. Condom was consistently used by 38.3% (n=95) of sexually active students in both genders. A higher proportion (44.6%) (n=82) of male students reported regular use of condoms compared to (20.3%) (n=13) of (partners of) sexually active female students (chi2 = 11.8 P = 0.001). Significant predictors of regular condom use include (male) gender, (higher) level of study and (single) marital status. CONCLUSION: Most students were sexually active and many practiced unsafe sex. This indicates the need for youth friendly reproductive health programmes targeting these students.
BACKGROUND: Increasing sexual networking among university students exposes them to the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS. Despite this, the level of condom use and sexual abstinence is low. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to describe sexual behavior and identify predictors of condom use among students in a Nigerian university. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires among 404 students of the Federal university of Technology, Minna in northern Nigeria. FINDINGS: A total of 328 (81.2%) questionnaires were completed and returned. There were 230 male and 98 female respondents giving a sex ratio of 1:2.3. The respondent's ages ranged from 16 to 38 years with an overall mean of 23.53.51 years. A significantly higher proportion of males 184 (80.0%) reported being sexually experienced compared to 64 (65.0%) females (chi2 = 8.05 P < 0.05). The mean age of first sexual experience was also significantly higher among male students [18.92.1 years] compared to female students [16.41.7 years] (t = 11.36, P < 0.01). Similarly, a significantly higher proportion (56.2%) of sexually active males had multiple partners compared to females (38.1%) (chi2 = 11.9, P = 0.001). In addition, the mean number of lifetime sexual partners was significantly higher (5.3) for males compared to females (2.6) [t = 12.0, P < 0.001]. Condom was consistently used by 38.3% (n=95) of sexually active students in both genders. A higher proportion (44.6%) (n=82) of male students reported regular use of condoms compared to (20.3%) (n=13) of (partners of) sexually active female students (chi2 = 11.8 P = 0.001). Significant predictors of regular condom use include (male) gender, (higher) level of study and (single) marital status. CONCLUSION: Most students were sexually active and many practiced unsafe sex. This indicates the need for youth friendly reproductive health programmes targeting these students.