Teachers’ Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health Interventions for In-school Adolescents in Nigeria

Joshua O. Aransiola, Sola Asa, Patience Obinjuwa, Oluseyi Olarewaju, Olubukola O. Ojo, Adesegun O. Fatusi

Abstract

High prevalence of early and unprotected sex, resulting in adverse reproductive health outcomes, has been reported among adolescents in Nigeria. While school-based sexual and reproductive health interventions for in-school adolescents is widely recognized, little is known on the kind of involvements desired by teachers and their perceptions of handling students’ reproductive health concerns. In this study, the teachers favoured school-based reproductive health education (RHE), but have divers’ opinions on what should be included in such RHE. Majority was not willing or comfortable in personal counseling of students but can teach RHE in classroom environment. They support the current approach of expelling pregnant school girls. The article advocates for gender-sensitive and developmental-oriented approaches that will ensure rehabilitation and re-integration of pregnant girls into the school system after their delivery, and recommend the need to build teachers skills and promote students-teachers dialogue in order to optimize school environment for addressing ASRH. (Afr J Reprod Health 2013; 17[4]: 84-92).

Full Text:

PDF

References

Fawole OI, Asuzu MC, Oduntan SO. Survey of knowledge,

attitudes and sexual practices relating to HIV

infection/AIDS among Nigerian secondary school

students. African Journal of Reproductive Health

:15-24.

Jejeebhoy SJ. Adolescent sexual and reproductive behavior:

a review of the evidence from India. Social Science &

Medicine 1998;46(10):1275-90.

Cohall AT, Cohall R, Dye B, Dini S, Vaughan RD, Coots

S. Overheard in the halls: What adolescents are

saying, and what teachers are hearing, about health

issues. Journal of school health 2007;77(7):344-50.

Fatusi AO, Hindin MJ. Adolescents and youth in

developing countries: Health and development issues context. Journal of Adolescence 2010;33(4):499-

Slap GB, Lot L, Huang B, Daniyam CA, Zink TM, Succop

PA. Sexual behaviour of adolescents in Nigeria: cross

sectional survey of secondary school students. BMJ

;326(7379):15.

Amuyunzu-Nyamongo M, Biddlecom AE, Ouedraogo C,

Woog V. Qualitative evidence on adolescents’ views

of sexual and reproductive health in Sub-Saharan

Africa. Occasional Report 2005;16.

Caldwell JC, Orubuloye IO, Caldwell P. Fertility decline in

Africa: A new type of transition? Population and

development review 1992:211-42.

Hammed MK, Adedigba M, Ogunbodede OE. The role of

secondary school teachers in HIV prevention in

Nigeria. Vulnerable children and youth studies

;2(2):173-79.

Orji E, Esimai O. Sexual behaviour and contraceptive use

among secondary school students in Ilesha South

West Nigeria. Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

;25(3):269-72.

Fawole I, Asuzu M, Oduntan S, Brieger W. A schoolbased

AIDS education programme for secondary

school students in Nigeria: a review of effectiveness.

Health education research 1999;14(5):675-83.

Adegbenro CA, Adeniyi J, Oladepo O. Effect of Training

Programme on Secondary Schools Teachers'

Knowledge and Attitude towards Reproductive Health

Education in Rural Schools IIe-Ife, Nigeria Attitude

towards Reproductive Health Education in Rural

Schools IIe-Ife, Nigeria. African Journal of

Reproductive Health 2007;10(3):98-105.

Fatusi AO, Blum RW. Predictors of early sexual initiation

among a nationally representative sample of Nigerian

adolescents. BMC Public Health 2008;8:1-14.

National Population Commission (NPC), ICF Macro.

Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2010.

Calverton, Maryland, USA. 2010.

National Population Commission (NPC), ICF Macro.

Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2008.

Calverton, Maryland, USA 2008.

World Health Organisation. World report on violence and

health. World Health Organization, Geneva 2002:1–

Cook RJ, Erdman JN, Dickens BM. Respecting

adolescents’ confidentiality and reproductive and

sexual choices. International Journal of Gynecology

& Obstetrics 2007;98(2):182-87.

Kilmarx PH. Global epidemiology of HIV. Current

Opinion in HIV and AIDS 2009;4(4):240-46

1097/COH.0b013e32832c06db.

Bankole A, Ahmed FH, Neema S, Ouedraogo C, Konyani

S. Knowledge of correct condom use and consistency

of use among adolescents in four countries in Sub-

Saharan Africa. African Journal of Reproductive

Health 2007;11(3):197-220.

East L, Jackson D, O'Brien L, Peters K. Use of the male

condom by heterosexual adolescents and young

people: literature review. Journal of Advanced

Nursing 2007;59(2):103-10.

Kirby D, Laris B, Rolleri L. The Impact of Sex and HIV

Education Programs on Youths in Developing

Countries, . Research Triangle Park, NC, Family

Health International 2006.

Kirby D, Obasi A, Laris B. The Effectiveness of Sex

Education and HIV Education Interventions in

Developing Countries in D. Ross, B. Dick and

Ferguson (Eds.) Preventing HIV in Young People: A

Systematic Review of the Evidence from Developing

Countries. Geneva: World Health Organization 2006.

Mayor S. News: Pregnancy and childbirth are leading

causes of death in teenage girls in developing

countries. Bmj 2004;328:1152.

Dangal G. An update on teenage pregnancy. The Internet

Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2005;5(1):205-

Ajuwon A, Olaleye A, Faromoju B, Ladipo O. Sexual

behavior and experience of sexual coercion among

secondary school students in three states in North

Eastern Nigeria. BMC Public Health 2006;6(1):310.

Olukoya A, Kaya A, Ferguson B, AbouZahr C. Unsafe

abortion in adolescents. International Journal of

Gynecology & Obstetrics 2001;75(2):137-47.

Blum RW, Nelson-Mmari K. The health of young people

in a global context. Journal of Adolescent Health

;35(5):402-18.

Klein JD. Adolescent pregnancy: Current trends and

issues. Pediatrics 2005;116(1):281-86.

Kaaya SF, Mukoma W, Flisher AJ, Klepp K.

School‐based sexual health interventions in

sub‐Saharan Africa: A review. Social Dynamics

;28(1):64-88.

Kinsler J, Sneed CD, Morisky DE, Ang A. Evaluation of a

school-based intervention for HIV/AIDS prevention

among Belizean adolescents. Health education

research 2004;19(6):730-38.

Kirby D. The impact of schools and school programs upon

adolescent sexual behavior. Journal of Sex Research

;39(1):27-33.

Parwej S, Kumar R, Walia I, Aggarwal AK. Reproductive

health education intervention trial. Indian journal of

pediatrics 2005;72(4):287-91.

Plummer ML, Wight D, Obasi AIN, Wamoyi J, Mshana

G, Todd J, et al. A process evaluation of a schoolbased

adolescent sexual health intervention in rural

Tanzania: the MEMA kwa Vijana programme. Health

Education Research 2007;22(4):500-12.

James-Traore T, Finger W, Ruland C, Stephanie S.

Teacher training: Essential for school-based

reproductive health and HIV/AIDS education: Family

Health International, 2009.

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.