FORMS OF SEXUAL CONDUCTS AND RISK PERCEPTION OF ADOLESCENTS IN SCHOOL AND OUT OF SCHOOL IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Envuladu Esther Awazzi*, Anke van der Kwaak, Zwanikken Prisca, Osagie Ize Anuoluwapo, Okoh Elizabeth Onyi, Ekponimo Sylvia Uyai

ABSTRACT

Background Although heterosexual sex has consistently been reported as the commonest type of sex in Nigeria, research findings are now providing evidence that adolescents also engage in other forms of sexual practices including same sex practice Methodology The study was a qualitative exploratory study using focus group discussion among adolescent between the ages of 18 and 19 years in two Local government areas of Plateau state, Nigeria. The adolescents were purposively selected from schools and communities with the assistance of a local NGO working with adolescents in the state and the youth leaders in the communities. The FGDs were divided into those in school and those out of school and separated into males and females. Results The study found that both adolescents in school and out of school initiate sex as early as 10 to 15 years. Contrary to popular opinions, adolescents in this study revealed that they engage in different forms of sexual conduct ranging from penetrative vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex, sex with more than one partner at a time and masturbation. However, the sexual conducts differ slight among those in school and those out of school and also differ based on the sex.While those in school had sexual partners mostly of the same age group, those out of school especially the females had sexual partners that are much older than they are referred to as either sugar daddies or sugar mummies. Other sexual partners were teachers, strangers, prostitutes and close family members. Conclusion This study concluded that a number of adolescents in Nigeria are sexually active with different sexual conducts based on their context. Some of their sexual practices are quite unsafe which calls for further research especially on interventions that will ensure healthy sexual life among adolescents in Nigeria.

Keywords: Adolescents, sexual conducts, risk perception, in school, out of school, Nigeria.