SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF ADOLESCENTS IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE EAST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT OF THE NORTHERN REGION

Abstract

The study aimed at assessing the sexual behavior of adolescents in selected Senior High Schools in the East Mamprusi District of Ghana. Cross-sectional descriptive study design was used with multistage sampling technique to sample 405 respondents from two randomly selected Senior High Schools in the East Mamprusi District. The study adopted an integrated mixed-methods approach to data gathering, using questionnaires to gather data from students. Sexual practices were seen as diverse. Generally, penile-vagina penetrative sex was considered the ultimate sex by all respondents. Slightly more than half of respondents (53.1%) have ever had penile-vagina penetrative sex. More females (62.1%) than males (38.8%)) were likely to have reported ever having penile-vagina penetrative sex. Majority of respondents (62.1%) had their sexual debut between ages 14 and 17 years. On the issue of sources of sex information, the data revealed that respondents received sex information from teachers (56.6%); family members (24.4%) and friends (14.1%). Slightly more than half of respondents (54%) consider that sex education by parents is empowering in the delay of sexual debut. On the issue of parentadolescent communication on sex and sexuality a bivariate analysis of the relationship between parent-adolescent sexual communication and the sexual debut of adolescents shows that there is a statistically significant relationship between sex education provided by parents and the sexual debut of adolescents with a p-value of (0.00). There is some support and recognition of the benefits of comprehensive sex education by students. The researcher therefore recommend the need for a more comprehensive sexual education programme by parents and school authorities across the country.