Factors associated with protective sexual behaviours among unmarried young people in Nigeria: A cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

The risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections is associated with young adulthood that practice experimental behaviour, including the non-use of condoms during sexual intercourse with partners. There is a paucity of studies on the factors influencing sexual behaviours among young people, with a focus on gender disaggregation and condom use using 5 years interval analysis. This study examined factors associated with positive sexual behaviours among unmarried young people in Nigeria. The data for this study was derived from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data and comprised a weighted sample drawn from 2,458 females and 762 males aged 15-24 years giving a total of 3,220 never married and sexually active young people. Data were analysed using descriptive and analytical methods, including multivariate binary logistic regression. The results showed that 64.5% and 36.6% of young males and females engaged in protective sexual behaviours. The likelihood of engaging in protective sexual behaviours significantly increased among males who reported a history of residential instability (OR: 2.06, CI: 1.18-3.58) and females who had knowledge of STIs (aOR: 2.54, CI: 1.10-5.83). In addition, an increase in the educational attainment and household’s wealth quintile was positively associated with engaging in protective sexual behaviours among female and male young people with regional variations. This study found that most male young people engaged in protective sexual behaviours compared with their female counterparts. Being knowledgeable of STIs and having a history of residential instability are positively associated with protective sexual behaviour with gender variations. There is the need for more region-wide educational and empowerment programmes on sexual and reproductive health to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services in Nigeria.