ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As part of the young age bracket, undergraduate university students are an important group exposed to a range of risky behaviours. The increased privacy afforded by living outside of their parents’ home provides greater opportunity for sexual expression.This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and prevalent risky sexual practices among female undergraduate students in the University of Benin.

METHODS: This research utilized a descriptive cross-sectional study design. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 481 participants. Data were collected using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) version 22.0.Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out using Chi-Square test with the level significance set at p<0.05.

RESULTS: The mean age of the respondents was 22.9±3 years. Only 175 (39.3%) had good knowledge of risk of unwanted pregnancy. Positive attitude towards risky sexual behaviour was observed among only144 (32.4%) of the respondents. The proportion respondents who have ever had sex was 259 (58.2%). The most know and commonly used contraceptives where male condom and emergency contraceptive pill (postinor) with proportions of 166 (64.1%) and 149 (57.5%) respectively.There was a significant association between religion and ever had sex.

CONCLUSION: Majority of the respondents had poor knowledge of risk of unwanted pregnancy and most of them had negative attitude towards it. Over half of the respondents have had sex at least once in their lifetime and over half exhibited risky sexual behaviour. Our findings highlighted the need to intensify awareness on risky sexual behaviour and correct use of various types of contraceptives among university students