IMPACT OF SEX EDUCATION ON KNOWLEDGE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BENIN METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the impact of sex education on the knowledge of sexually transmitted infections among senior secondary school students in Benin metropolis, Edo State. For this purpose, the study specifically examined the extent to which age of students influenced the knowledge of HIV/AIDs among senior secondary school students; extent to which gender of students influenced the knowledge of gonorrhoea among senior secondary school students; extent to which class of students influenced the knowledge of syphilis among senior secondary school students; extent to which school type influenced the knowledge of candidiasis among senior secondary school students; and extent to which school ownership influenced the knowledge of STIs among senior secondary school students. In order to meet this purpose, five research questions were raised with corresponding hypotheses formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised of all the public (7,240) and private (4,063) senior secondary school students in Benin City, Edo State. Sample for this study was 384 senior secondary school students. The random sampling technique was used to select 10% of total number of students from three public and three private senior secondary schools in each of the three local government areas that make up the metropolis. Every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. The research instrument was a questionnaire titled “Impact of the Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infections Questionnaire” (IKSTIQ). The questionnaire was administered personally on the sample of the study in the selected schools after necessary permission had been obtained from the school authority. The research questions were answered using descriptive statistics of mean and percentage, while the hypotheses were tested using the One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The results obtained from the investigation indicated that, there was a significant difference in the mean scores of students’ age range of 13-15, 16-18 and 18 years and above on the extent to which sex education influenced the knowledge of candidiasis; there was a significant difference in the mean score of male and female students on the extent to which sex education influenced the knowledge of gonorrhoea; there was a significant difference in the influence of sex education on students’ level of knowledge of STIs by class level; there was a significant difference in the mean score of students’ school type on the extent to which sex education influenced the knowledge of HIV/AIDs; there was a significant difference in the mean score of school ownership on the extent to which sex education influenced the knowledge of syphilis. Based on the findings, it was recommended that all programmes and strategies aimed at controlling risky sex among youths must include redefining various approaches already adopted by governments in resolving students’ economic crisis. There should be a re-evaluation of the nature of information about sexually transmitted infection exposed to students. Also, a value-reorientation campaign programme be pushed or carried out through the National Orientation Agency to educate the generality of the public, particularly youths, on sexually transmitted infections.