FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

ABSTRACT

This research was carried out to study the factors responsible for risky sexual behaviour among undergraduate students of the university of Benin. The research questions raised were:

•       What is the prevalence of risky sexual behaviour among undergraduate students, Faculty of Education, University of Benin?
•       Is peer group responsible for risky sexual behaviour among undergraduate students, Faculty of Education, University of Benin?
•       Is social media abuse responsible for risky sexual behaviour among undergraduate students of the Faculty of Education, University of Benin?
•       Is school climate responsible for risky sexual behaviour among undergraduate students, Faculty of Education, University of Benin?
•       Are         strategies    in       placeto      stop/prevent         risky  sexual         behaviour     among undergraduate students, Faculty of Education, University of Benin?

The descriptive survey design was employed in the study. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire, and the purposive sampling technique was used to select a total of three hundred respondents.

The findings of the study showed that;

1.      Risky sexual behaviour is highly prevalent among university of Benin undergraduates
2.      Peer      groupis       responsiblefor     risky  sexual         behaviour   among undergraduate students
3.      Social media is responsible for risky sexual behaviour among undergraduate students
4.      School climate is responsible for risky sexual behaviour among undergraduate students
5.      There are no adequate strategies in place to stop/prevent risky sexual behaviour among undergraduate students.

Students at the University of Benin engaged in an alarmingly high level of risky sexual behaviour. Alcohol use, viewing of pornographic media, lack of parental supervision, lack of parent-child communication regarding sex-related health issues, and peer pressure to engage in sexual activity were all factors that contributed to an increase in the prevalence of risky sexual behavior among students of the University of Benin.

The study therefore recommends that university institutions, parents, lecturers and administrators, and public health authorities play their respective roles to help curb the practice of risky sexual behaviours among undergraduate students of university of Benin.