Personal Variables as Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviours among Undergraduates of Universities in Edo State, Nigeria
AREWAH, Afe Agbonghaomon, Ph.D
Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
This research examined individual characteristics that influence risky sexual conduct among university undergraduates in Edo State. The study’s precise goals were to ascertain the degree to which personal characteristics (sex, age, educational attainment, and residential status) explain differences in many and unprotected sexual behaviours among undergraduate students at Edo State institutions. The study posed and examined two possibilities. For the study, a survey-based correlational strategy was used. All 73,439 ordinary undergraduate students enrolled in Edo State universities made up the study’s population. A sample of 2,938 undergraduate students, or 4% of the total population, was selected from the universities that were included in the study. The study used an adaptation of Turchik’s (2007) Sexual Risk Survey (SRS) scale. Unprotected sex had a Cronbach alpha of 0.71, whereas many sexual acts had a Cronbach alpha of 0.78. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse the obtained data (BLR). Every hypothesis was examined at the significance level of 0.05. The findings demonstrated that among Edo State university undergraduates, personal characteristics (sex, age, educational attainment, and residential status) predicted engagement in hazardous sexual behaviour (unprotected sexual activities and numerous sexual activities) (p<0.05). Additionally, the results indicated that among undergraduate students at Edo State institutions, personal variables strongly predicted changes in unprotected sexual behaviours by 13 to 17 percent and in having many sexual partners by 10 to 14 percent. The provision of information, orientation, and counselling services to male and female university freshmen in Edo State was recommended as one of the responsibilities of professional counsellors, trainee counsellors, and counsellor educators.
Keywords: Personal Variables, Predictors, Risky Sexual Behaviours, Unprotected Sex activities, Multiple Sexual Partners