PERSONAL VARIABLES AND ATTITUDE TO SEX EDUCATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IKONO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE OF NIGERIA

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

For many years the situation has been that many teenagers would gain initial information about sexuality and related issues from other misinformed youngsters who did not know much themselves.

Sex education is the total expression of which we are as human beings; it encompasses our whole psychological development and our entire self-concept. It is also the process of acquiring information and forming attitudes and beliefs of sex, sexual identity, relationship and intimacy. It develops our reproductive health, interpersonal relationship, affections, body image and gender roles. (National Guidelines Task Force, 1996).

Adolescence is the process of gradual transition from childhood to adulthood in which the individual’s psychological and physiological process develops. The wellbeing of the adolescent is of great importance (Adeyemo 2001) they need to be informed and guided toward developing positive attitudes on Sexuality. Unfortunately parents who ought to provide the primary sex education to their young ones and communicate to them specific value about sex play the least role as a source of accurate information on sexual matters. (Ogwu, 2001).

The schools, since is the only institution which reaches all children over a prolonged period of time has both a challenging opportunity and obligation to contribute their knowledge and understanding of the roles both sexes play, as well as to correct the distorted view of life receive from cultural beliefs and moral laws.

In almost every society, pre-marital sexual relationship is taboo, open discussions are suppressed. Consequently, adolescent has to struggle to ensure that his or her behaviour is not at variance with the norms, values and ideas of the society. (Adunola, 2005)

Since taboos are imposed on sexual matters by culture and religion, Secondary school students find it difficult to express their sexual affection to their parents. This creates some problems among adolescents as far as understanding sexual matters are concerned.

Adunola (2005) cited anthropological evidence which shows that individuals in societies which place enormous restraint on their desires to gratify their sexual drives are more susceptible to behavioural problems than those in permissive societies. One would therefore expect to find more deviant sexual problems in rural communities than in the urban centres. But the reverse seems to be the case.

Newton (1993) stated how the incidences of increased rape, prostitution, sexual promiscuity and homosexual practices in Nigeria society have reached alarming proportions.

Most adolescent engage in heterosexual activities which often result in pregnancy and sometimes abortion. Such abortion may lead to death. The unwanted pregnancy may lead to severe disturbances which can affect the adolescents concentration, coping abilities and interpersonal relationship.

Newton also maintained that lack of sex education makes many adolescents engage in sexual relationship which do not only affect inter personal relationship but could result in some sexually transmitted Infections (STI) including Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). These disease conditions may make the adolescents vectors, or lead them to untimely death.

Adolescent sexual activities if not controlled could also lead to pregnancy among immature girls, hence resulting in Vesico Vaginal Fistilae (V.V.F) (Abdullahi, 2003). Such victims may face expulsion from school which may terminate their school career and most of them may indulge in other social vices in the society such as drug abuse, drunkenness and theft which are part of the society ills today. Viewing these problems the adolescent is going through as a result of improper sex education (Abdullahi, 2003). This study will focus on understanding the attitudes of secondary school students towards sex education.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Investigation revealed that Nigeria today is witnessing, an alarming rate of increase in problems associated with adolescent sexual development among these problems are sexual perversions like homosexuality, lesbianism, rape, prostitution and sexual harassment. Incidences of unwanted pregnancies that call for induced abortion, high mortality rate among our girls, premature pregnancy resulting in Vesico Virginal Fistula.

Despite the efforts made by school administrators and tutors to educate students on sex education, there has not been any significant evidence as to the attitude and knowledge levels of students on sex and sexual practices amongst them. This study therefore focuses on the personal variables and attitude to sex education of secondary school students in Ikono LGA, it ascertains whether the students in Ikono LGA are in support of the teaching of sex education in secondary schools.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to investigate the personal variables and attitude towards sex education of secondary school students in Ikono LGA. Specifically, the objectives of the study sought to;

1. Examine the relationship between personal variables and attitude and sex education of secondary school students in Ikono LGA.
2. Examine the influence of personal variables to sex education of secondary school students in Ikono LGA.
3. Examine the influence of students’ attitude to sex education in secondary school in Ikono LGA.
4. Determine the level of knowledge of students on sex education in secondary schools.

1.4 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What is the relationship between personal variables and attitude and sex education of secondary school students in Ikono LGA?
• What is the influence of personal variables to sex education of secondary school students in Ikono LGA?
• What is the influence of students’ attitude to sex education in secondary school in Ikono LGA?
• What is the level of knowledge of students on sex education in secondary schools?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

• H₀1: There is no relationship between personal variables and attitude and sex education of secondary school students in Ikono LGA.
• H₀2: Personal variables has no influence on sex education of secondary school students in Ikono LGA
• H₀3: Students’ attitude does not influence sex education in secondary school in Ikono LGA.
• H₀4: The level of knowledge of students on sex education in secondary schools is low.

1.6 Significance of the Study

Throughout human history, sexuality has also been perceived as a threat to people’s health: untreatable STIs and unintended pregnancies were almost always grave risks associated with sexual encounters. Sexuality education thus fulfills this highly needed function of sexual health promotion.

This study will primarily serve as a baseline survey for further research on sexual education and health. This study is also imperative for adolescent boys and girls as it will aid them to have access to sexual health information, make informed decision that will guarantee them a reputable future and acquire life skills to deal with sexuality and relationships in a satisfactory and responsible manner.

Religious organizations, policy makers, educators, parents and community/opinion leaders will find recommendations from this study useful as it will guide them in formulating effective policies in favour of sex education in schools, intensify campaigns on the need to include sex education in school curriculums, debunk any myths and misconceptions concerning sex education in schools in African societies and facilitate equitable access to sexual and reproductive health education. Sexual and reproductive health is nowadays also highly valued at the global level. Three of the eight internationally accepted Millennium Development Goals (MDG 3 on gender equality, MDG 5 on maternal health, and MDG 6 which includes HIV/AIDS) are directly related to it.

Hence, this study will also serve as a panacea to the attainment of these universal development goals. Information generated from this study will be informative to the government, non-government and the public health system in planning and implementation of sustainable sex education programs in schools.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This scope of this research is focused on personal variables and attitude to sex education of secondary school students using Ikono Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria as a case study.

1.8 Limitations of Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint:

   The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.

2. Financial Constraint:

   Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

3. Lack of Initial Cooperation from Respondents:

   A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Personal:

Belonging to or affecting a particular person rather than anyone else.

Variables:

A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types.

Attitude:

Attitudes have generally been regarded as either mental readiness or implicit predispositions, which create an influence over a large class of evaluative responses. These responses are usually directed towards some object, person or group. In addition, attitudes are seen as enduring predispositions, which are learned rather than innate.

Sex Education:

Sex education is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, age of consent, reproductive health, reproductive rights, safe sex, birth control and sexual abstinence.

Students:

A student is primarily a person enrolled in a school or other educational institution who attends classes in a course to attain the appropriate level of mastery of a subject under the guidance of an instructor and who devotes time outside class to do whatever activities the instructor assigns that are necessary either for class preparation or to submit evidence of progress towards that mastery.

Secondary School:

A secondary school is both an organization that provides secondary education and the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools can provide both lower secondary education and upper secondary education.