EXPERIENCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS TOWARDS SEXUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEEDS BARRIERS IN SABON GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The fundamental lack of sexuality and reproductive health education amongadolescents in most African countries 
makes them display sexual behaviours and developmental characteristics that make them vulnerable to reproductive 
health challenges.This study describesthe experience of secondary school adolescents towards sexuality and 
reproductive health needs barriers in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Descriptive 
cross-sectional design was adopted and the setting of the study was three selected secondary schools. The multistage 
sampling technique was used to select 422 respondents from the three schools. Fisher's formula was used to 
determine the sample size. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 
20. The results showed a remarkable poor awareness level among respondents about sexual and reproductive health 
information. A little above a third of the respondents have had sexual experience at the age of 17 years.Few of them 
had experienced an unintended pregnancy, gender-based violence, and sexually transmitted infection in the past. 
The majority of the respondents reported that their sexual and reproductive health information needs were not met. 
Findings also showed that religious belief, cultural acceptance, and stigma and discrimination were the major 
impediments reported in accessing sexual and reproductive health information.There was a significant gap in 
adolescents‘ sexuality and reproductive health needs awareness and religious belief, cultural acceptance and stigma 
and discrimination were the major impediments in accessing sexual and reproductive health information. 
Consideration and support should be employed on schooling adolescents in other to increase SRH Awareness.