SEXUALITY AND CONTRACEPTIVE USE AMONG ADOLESCENTS

1.1 Introduction

Contraceptive is used as a form of emergency contraception (more commonly known as a morning after pill). Contraceptive is formulated to function in a manner similar to the female hormone progesterone, allowing for prevention of pregnancy if taken within a reasonable period of time. Generally, it is recommended that contraceptive be taken no later than three days after having unprotected sex. However, it has proven to be more effective in cases where the treatment was started closer to the time of the sexual encounter. Emergency contraception (EC) can significantly reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions especially in Nigeria. Despite the increasing awareness of EC among educated young women in Nigeria, the rate of utilization remains low.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Sexuality and contraceptives is an increasing topic in this 21st century around the world due to the adverse effects of unsafe sexual behaviors, such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among the adolescents as well as adults. Teaching adolescents about birth control may not be consistent with promoting abstinence. However, most adolescents are sexually active and have high tendency to engage in early sexual activities despite having knowledge of abstinence. According to the American Pediatric Association, nine in ten adolescents have had intercourse by the time they turn twenty and, more than 15 million girls between the ages of 15 and 19 give birth every year worldwide, and an additional 5 million have abortions.

In Central America, 18% of all births are to women in their teens and in Africa this figure is 23% according to world health organization. Parents-adolescent communication also plays an important role in attitudes and behaviors of adolescents concerning contraceptives. (Pediatrics 1999.) Our project is done under MIMO (Moving in moving on) which is 3 year research and development project with EU funding from the central Baltic program. The aim of the project is to improve professional team work and art based methods for social and youth work by carrying out various workshops for the target groups of 13-17 year olds.

The project is targeted on youths who are at risk of isolation from society (MIMO 2013). However, the aim of this project is to share adolescents experiences about sexuality and contraceptives from a cultural perspective. And task is to use digital story telling method to share adolescent experiences of sexuality and contraception from cultural perspectives.A large number of factors influence sexual activities during adolescence period. The most common factor is teenagers' ability to cope with the body changes in shape and size especially women. Teenagers are exposed to the risk of contracting STDs, including HIV/Aids and teenage girls are even more at risk, with early, unwanted and unplanned pregnancies.(WHO2013.)

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Sexuality and Contraceptive Use among Adolescents.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Premarital sexual activity is common in many regions of the world. A variety of studies in Nigeria suggest that significant proportions of adolescents are sexually active by their teens. Despite high sexual activity, not many young people are taking precautions that would enable them prevent the consequences of their sexual activity. This poses serious health risks for young girls involved, by exposing them to sexually Vf transmitted diseases (STDs), unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion, economic hardships and school dropouts (Njau and Redney 1995, Furgusion).

Not all adolescents' sexual activity has been of equal interest to demographers. Researchers have devoted the bulk of their attention to premarital sex, based on the assumption that sexual activity is increasing among unmarried adolescents. Thus there is a dearth of information about the sexual and reproductive knowledge of soonto-be married partners, the transition to marriage, and the experience of young married couples and their negotiations regarding the intervals between marriage and sexual intercourse and between marriage and first birth. On this background the researcher wants to investigate on sexuality and conceptive use among adolescent

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Sexuality and Contraceptive Use among Adolescents. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To ascertain the relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among adolescents
2. To ascertain the association between the frequency of sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among female adolescents
3. To ascertain the relationship between the type of sexual partners and contraceptive use among female adolescents
4. To determine the frequency of sexual activity among adolescent in Nigeria

1.5 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 age at first sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among adolescents?
• What is the association between the frequency of sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among female adolescents?
• What is the frequency of sexual activity among adolescent in Nigeria?
• What is the relationship between the type of sexual partners and contraceptive use among female adolescents?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

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.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among adolescents.
• H1: There is relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among adolescents.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no relationship between the type of sexual partners and contraceptive use among adolescents
• H1: There is relationship between the type of sexual partners and contraceptive use among adolescents

1.7 Significance of Study

This study will give clear insight on sexuality and contraceptive use among adolescent. The study will be beneficial to lecturers, students, youths and the general public.Clearly, there is need for more serious look into the decisions adolescents' make so as to engage in certain behaviour and to identify factors that may predispose adolescents to early coitus and non-use of contraception.

This study thus has the potential of providing some insightful information on adolescent sexuality and contraceptive use given that it will investigate specific segments of adolescents. It is hoped that the study findings can be used in designing appropriate interventions for adolescents and that they will be of meaningful use to policy makers, educators, donor agencies and the community at large. The study will also serve as reference to other researchers that will embark on this topic.

1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Sexuality and Contraceptive Use among Adolescents in Enugu south local government of Enugu state.

1.9 Limitations of the 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. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. 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).

1.10 Definition of Terms

Sexuality: Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, erotic, physical, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors.

Contraceptive: Contraceptives are devices that attempt to prevent pregnancy by physically preventing sperm from entering the uterus. They include male condoms, female condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms, and contraceptive sponges with spermicide. Globally, condoms are the most common method of birth control.

Adolescent: Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood

1.11 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.

Chapter two highlights theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.

Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.

Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.

Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study