Substance abuse and sexual frequency among youths: implications for sexually-transmitted infections in Nigeria

Abstract

Substance use is one of the key factors that predispose young people to sexually frequent behaviors. This study therefore investigates the implications of substance abuse and sexual frequency for sexually transmitted infections among Nigerian youths. The study used quantitative data from the National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey (NARHS Plus II, 2012). The data for the study were analyzed using three levels of statistical analysis while, two statistical techniques were used and five models were constructed to test the formulated hypotheses The study reveals that the estimate incidence of relative risk (IRR) of substance abuse on sexual frequency confirmed a positive significant effects for both adjusted and unadjusted data (Smoking cigarette, unadjusted OR=.19 P-value=.000, adjusted OR=.33 P-value=.000; consuming alcohol everyday unadjusted OR=1.07 P-value=.000, adjusted OR=1.40 P-value=.000). While a significant relationship between substance abuse, sexual frequency, and likelihood of contracting STIs was established in the study (Pvalue<. 005). The study concludes that there is need for education on substance abuse among young people.