PERCEPTION AND PRACTICE OF SEXUALITY EDUCATION AMONG MALE PARENTS OF ADOLESCENTS IN ALIMOSHO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Sexuality education is the highly important information provided to adolescents to help them make responsible decisions as it concerns their sexuality and their sexual health. Despite the importance of sexuality education however, many parents still shy away from the topic. Much of the research on sexuality education has focused on female parents and so little is known about the practice of sexuality education among male parents in Nigeria. This study was therefore conducted to examine the perception and practice of sexuality education among male parents of adolescents in Alimosho local government, lagos state, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among male parents of adolescents in Alimosho local government, Lagos state, Nigeria, with a total of 320 consenting male parents being randomly selected for the study. A semi-structured questionnaire with five sections comprising socio-demographic characteristics, perception, practice of sexuality education, factors influencing practice of sexuality education and suggestions on how to improve male parents’ practice of sexuality education, was used to collect quantitative data. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used for data analysis with the level of significance set at p=0.05. Respondents’ perceptions about sexuality education were scored and classified into two groups such that 0-4 was classified as ‘negative perception’ and 5- 9 was classified as ‘positive perception’. Respondents’ mean age was 45.5±6.8 years, 71.6% were yorubas, 21.9% igbos, while 3.1% were hausas. Ninety-five percent (95.0%) were married, 1.3% divorced, 1.6% single parents and 2.2% were widowers. Ninety percent (90.0%) of the respondents agreed that sexuality education is very essential for adolescents, 80.3% agreed that parents should be the main source of sexuality education to their adolescents, 85.9% agreed that sexuality education can help prevent teenage pregnancy, while 87.5% agreed that sexuality education helps adolescents protect themselves from rape and sexual abuse. 40.0% of the respondents had never provided sexuality education to their children. 57.0% of those who had ever provided sexuality education to their adolescents, reported that they initiated the discussion the last time while 92.2% reported that they felt comfortable the last time the discussion took place. Among the components of sexuality education discussed, majority of the respondents (75.8%) discussed HIV/AIDs and other STIs; 63.3% discussed pregnancy and related issues, while 24.2% discussed contraceptives. 42.8% of the respondents revealed that they do not know how to provide sexuality education, while 51.9% report that training could motivate them to provide sexuality education to their adolescents. There was also a significant association between the age, marital status and religion of respondents and their practice of sexuality education. The practice of sexuality education is still a bit low among male parents of adolescents in Alimosho local government. Awareness and training programmes must therefore be organized to improve the practice of sexuality education among these male parents.