SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN OYO, OYO STATE

Abstract

This study examined sexual and reproductive health rights among in-school adolescents in Oyo, Oyo State. The population for this study comprised all male and female secondary school students in Oyo, Oyo State. A multi-stage sampling technique of purposive, stratified and simple random sampling technique of balloting type was used to select six hundred (600) respondents. The instrument for data collection was a researchers structured questionnaire validated by three experts in the field of Health Education and Test and Measurement. The split-half method was used during the pilot study. The two sets of data obtained were correlated using Spearman-Brown rank-order correlation, yielding a coefficient of 0.77, which makes the instrument reliable for the study. The instrument was administered by six trained research assistants. Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. The three null hypotheses were rejected. This implies that reproductive health knowledge had a significant relationship with the promotion of sexual health, reproductive rights and challenges facing in-school adolescents’ access to sexual and reproductive rights. It was recommended that health teachers should give adequate reproductive health information that will enhance the promotion of sexual health among in-school adolescents. Reproductive health rights of in-school adolescents should be emphasised and made available to students so as to make use of the informed choice. Health teachers are encouraged to deal with barriers that prevent in-school adolescents from accessing sexual and reproductive health rights so as to make use of the available rights.