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Predictors of sexual and reproductive behaviors among adolescents in a secondary school for girls in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria Cover

Predictors of sexual and reproductive behaviors among adolescents in a secondary school for girls in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria

Open Access
|Jul 2026

Figures & Tables

Factors associated with sexual and reproductive healthcare behavior_

ItemsSRH Behavior, n (%)StatisticP
RiskySafeTotal
Age (years) 5.131c0.077
  ≤124 (4.1)93 (95.9)97
  13-149 (6.8)123 (93.2)132
  ≥1512 (12.6)83 (87.4)95
Class 13.971c0.003
  JSS 16 (7.0)80 (93.0)86
  JSS 23 (2.9)102 (97.1)105
  SSS 15 (6.7)70 (93.3)75
  SSS 211 (19.0)47 (81.0)58
Student type 2.961c0.085
  Day student23 (9.1)231 (90.9)254
  Boarder2 (2.9)68 (97.1)70
Living with 7.263f0.019
  Both parents14 (5.6)235 (94.4)249
  Single parent6 (18.2)27 (81.8)33
  Non-parent & foster parents5 (11.9)37 (88.1)42
Family type if both parents (n = 249) -f1.000
  Nuclear14 (6.0)220 (94.0)234
  Extended0 (0.0)15 (100.0)15
Gender of person if not both parents (n = 75) 0.170f1.000
  Female9 (15.5)49 (84.5)58
  Male1 (12.5)7 (87.5)8
  Foster parents1 (11.1)8 (88.9)9
Living arrangement 5.979f0.178
  Public yard8 (9.1)80 (90.9)88
  1 room self-contained4 (18.2)18 (81.8)22
  Two-bedroom flat3 (5.2)55 (94.8)58
  Three-bedroom flat9 (8.4)98 (91.6)107
  Duplex1 (2.1)47 (97.9)48
Pocket money -f0.002
  Receive15 (5.5)258 (94.5)273
  Does not receive10 (19.6)41 (80.4)51
Pocket money giver (n = 273) 1.606f0.450
  Parents10 (4.8)198 (95.2)208
  Parents & non-parents3 (6.8)41 (93.2)44
  Non-parents2 (9.5)19 (90.5)21
Age at sex debut (years) 5.600f0.083
  Before 914 (100.0)0 (0.0)14
  9-121 (50.0)1 (50.0)2
  13-156 (85.7)1 (14.3)7
  16-194 (100.0)0 (0.0)4

Sexual behavior among students of Queens Secondary School, Enugu_

ItemsFrequencyPercent (%)
Ever had sex before?
  Yes288.6
  No29691.4
At what age did you have your first sex (n = 28)
  Before 9 years1450.0
  9-12 years27.1
  13-15 years725.0
  16-19 years517.9
Were you forced in your first sex experience or was it your own free will (n = 28)
  I was forced (coercion)1760.7
  It was my own will1139.3
  Are currently having sex with anyone
  Yes1967.9
  No932.1
How many people are you having sex with currently (n = 19)
  One1368.4
  Two315.8
  More than two315.8
Ever had unprotected sex (n = 28)
  Yes2485.7
  No414.3
Have you had unprotected sex in the past 6 months (n = 24)
  Yes937.5
  No1562.5
Did you use condom the last time you had sex with your partner
  Yes517.9
  No2382.1
What method do you use to prevent pregnancy during or after sex (n = 28)
  Birth control pills27.1
  Condoms932.1
  Withdrawal/pull out517.9
  Putting lemon slices into the vagina after sex27.1
  Putting a piece of kitchen sponge before sex27.1
  Using ginger drink after sex27.1
  Drinking of hot gin (kai kai), other alcoholic drinks and hot pepper drink after sex13.6
  Use of vitamin C supplements after sex13.6
  None1657.1
Have you ever been pregnant (n = 28)
  Yes310.7
  No2589.3
How many times have you been pregnant (n = 3)
  Once266.7
  More than 2 times133.3
Have you ever removed a pregnancy before (n = 3)
  Yes3100
  No00
Where did you remove the pregnancy (n = 3)
  At the hospital133.3
  At a chemist shop133.3
  At home133.3
Have you ever gone for voluntary HIV test and screening
  Yes123.7
  No31296.3
Have you gone for voluntary HIV test and screening in the past 6 months (n = 12)
  Yes325.0
  No975.0
Reason(s) for having sex with someone (n = 28)
  Enjoyed sex828.6
  Encouragement from friends310.7
  I receive gifts from the person I have sex with414.3
  I got money from the person I have sex with27.1
  I receive favors from the person I have sex with27.1
  It is a part of the process of growth27.1
  I should, because all my friends are having sex310.7
  It is a way of expressing my love to a boy/male friend725.0
  I was forced517.9
Overall SRH behaviour
  Risky257.7
  Safe29992.3

Predictors of risky sexual and reproductive behavior among adolescents at Queens Secondary School, Enugu_

ItemsORP95% CI for OR
LowerUpper
Age (years)1.1440.5330.7491.749
Class: JSS 1, JSS 2, SSS 1, & SSS 21.5140.2330.7662.991
Student type: day vs. boarder0.3290.1640.0691.574
Living with: Both parents (ref) 0.229
  Single parent2.8070.0870.8629.143
  Foster parents1.2530.7360.3384.646
Living arrangement: Duplex (ref) 0.514
  Public yard2.1940.4860.24020.060
  1 room self-contained6.0870.1330.57664.285
  2-bedroom flat1.8570.6080.17419.835
  3-bedroom flat2.8520.3380.33424.372
Non-receipt of pocket money: yes vs. no2.7140.0501.0027.353
Constant0.0020.021

Socio-demographic characteristics of students of Queens Secondary School, Enugu, Nigeria (n = 324)_

ItemsFrequencyPercent (%)
Age (range 10-18, M ± SD: 13.55 ± 1.69)
  ≤129729.9
  13-1413240.7
  ≥159529.3
Tribe
  Igbo32098.8
  Hausa10.3
  Yoruba10.3
  Others: Ibibio, Delta20.6
Religion
  Christianity32199.1
  Traditional10.3
  Islam20.6
Class
  JSS 18626.5
  JSS 210532.4
  SSS 17523.1
  SSS 25817.9
Student type
  Day student25478.4
  Boarder7021.6

Family characteristics and living condition of the students of Queens Secondary School, Enugu, Nigeria (n = 324)_

ItemsFrequencyPercent (%)
Who are you living with
  Both parents24976.9
  Single parent3310.2
  Grandparents113.4
  Sibling30.9
  Uncle20.6
  Aunt154.6
  Nephew10.3
  Cousin20.6
  Guardian (not related by blood)82.5
Gender of the person you are living with if not both parents (n = 75)
  Female5877.3
  Male1722.7
If living with your parents, what is your family type (n = 249)
  Nuclear23494.0
  Extended156.0
Type of living arrangement
  Public yard8827.2
  1 room self-contained226.8
  2-bedroom flat5817.9
  3-bedroom flat10432.1
  Duplex4814.8
  4/5-bedroom flat41.2
Do you receive pocket money
  Yes27384.3
  No5115.7
How often do you receive pocket money (n = 273)
  Daily12846.9
  Weekly4817.6
  Once in 2 weeks207.3
  Monthly5520.1
  Once in 2 months145.1
  Quarterly82.9
Source of pocket money (n = 273)
  Parents25292.3
  Siblings4115.0
  Niece124.4
  Nephew114.0
  Cousins197.0
  Guardian124.4
  Boy/male friend82.9
  Neighbors134.8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/FON-2026-0030 | Journal eISSN: 2544-8994 | Journal ISSN: 2097-5368
Language: English
Page range: 259 - 269
Submitted on: Jan 4, 2025
Accepted on: Feb 25, 2025
Published on: Jul 3, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

© 2026 Chidinma E. Israel, Adaeze C. Nwosa, published by Shanxi Medical Periodical Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.