Sexual behavior and pregnancy among Nigerian students

Systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the knowledge and use of the female condom among Nigerians

Background

The female condom (FC) is a critical component in a comprehensive and sustainable approach to prevent HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.

Objectives

This review provides comprehensive information about Nigerian's knowledge and use of FC.

Methods

We screened search output, evaluated study eligibility, and extracted data in duplicate. Data from similar studies were combined in a meta-analysis.

Results

There was a significantly (p < 0.0001) high-level of awareness amongst the respondents. However, the use of the FC was very low at 5.5% among female respondents. There was a significant (p < 0.0001) difference between FC awareness and use. The main reasons for FC use were prevention of unintended pregnancy (55%) and STIs/HIV (31%). We observed a significant difference between reasons of non-use of the FC [F (5, 13) = 5.195, P = 0.0077]. Furthermore, there were significant differences between the sources of information on FC [F (3, 8) = 32.89, P < 0.0001].

Conclusion

Despite the high levels of awareness, especially among the female respondents, the use of the FC has remained extremely low even among the young, educated undergraduate students. There is aneed for robust and consistent advocacy to make the FC available and affordable.

Barrier contraception among adolescents and young adults in a tertiary institution in Southwestern Nigeria: a cross-sectional descriptive study

Nigeria, like most African nations, is basically conservative, but the young people are becoming more sexually liberated, and the incidence of STD/HIV, unwanted pregnancies and abortions among these young people is on the increase. The use of barrier contraception (BC), which is a cost-effective method of preventing STD/HIV, unwanted pregnancies and its attending complications, has therefore become an important issue in reproductive health. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among first year students of Osun State University, Nigeria. Four hundred respondents were studied using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires. The respondents were selected by balloting. Most respondents (93%) had heard about the male condom as a method of barrier contraception. Most respondents (79.1%) supported the use of barrier contraceptives, but many (62.5%) thought it would promote sexual promiscuity, 33.4% believed that the use of barrier contraception reflected a lack of trust from the partner, and 38.7% felt barrier contraception is not necessary with a stable partner. One hundred and sixty one (40.5%) had used a form of barrier contraception before, but only 130 (32.7%) are currently using BC. The male condom was the most commonly used method (88.2%), followed by female condom and diaphragm (5.6% respectively). The prevention of STI and unwanted pregnancies were the main reasons (59%) given by respondents for using BC, while religion was the main reason given by non-users. The attitudes of these students toward barrier contraception and their practice were poor. The role of sex education at homes and religious gatherings cannot be over-emphasized.

Influence of discipline of study on contraceptive usage among undergraduates in Southwest Nigeria

OBJECTIVE

To determine the influence of discipline of study on contraceptive usage among undergraduates in southwest Nigeria.

METHODS

A comparative cross-sectional study of students from medical and nonmedical disciplines was carried out.

RESULTS

A total of 387 undergraduates were investigated, out of which 198 (55.8%) were from medical disciplines (MD), and 189 (44.2%) were from nonmedical discipline (NMD). Out of the total number of respondents (387), 229 (59.2%), were sexually active, out of which 26.2% had been sexually active without contraception with a greater proportion of students of NMD being affected (p < 0.05). Students from MD had a better knowledge (71.9%) of contraception than those from NMD (28.1%). However, more students from NMD use contraceptives (62%) compared to those from MD (54%) (p < 0.05). Despite this, more students from NMD became pregnant despite contraceptive use (11%) compared to those from MD (5.1%) (p < 0.05). The condom was the most commonly used contraceptive among both disciplines. The peer group was the commonest source of information on contraception.

CONCLUSION

Discipline of study has an important influence on contraceptive usage. This is a pointer to the absolute need for adequate contraceptive education for every student, irrespective of the discipline of study.