Factors associated with HIV/AIDS sexual risk among young women aged 15-24 years in Nigeria

Authors

  • Chinekwu A. Obidoa Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut
  • Cyr E. M'Lan Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut
  • Stephen L. Schensul Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2012.e15

Keywords:

HIV/AIDS, young women, sexual risk, Nigeria.

Abstract

The growing rate of sexual risk-taking among young people contributes significantly to the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nigeria. This study, explores the influence of socio-demographic, HIV/AIDS awareness and female empowerment on the sexual risk behaviors of unmarried Nigerian women aged 15-24. The data presented in this paper was drawn from the 2003 Nigeria National Demographic and Health Survey. The sample consisted of unmarried women aged 15-24 in the dataset. Data was collected through a structured and interviewer administered questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify the most important predictors of sexual risk behaviors. Sexual risk-taking is relatively high among unmarried young women. Among those who are sexually active, 80% indicated that they did not use a condom during their first sexual encounter. Regression analysis revealed that younger age, lower HIV/AIDS prevention and transmission knowledge, lower knowledge of where to obtain condoms, lower material standard of living and greater intimate partner violence were significantly associated with sexual risk-taking in this population. Findings revealed that the sexual behavior of unmarried Nigerian women aged 15-24 is influenced by a complex matrix of factors. Identifying specific processes and contexts that promote the concentration of risk among sub-sections of young unmarried women aged 15-24 years in Nigeria should be a research and intervention priority.
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Author Biographies

Cyr E. M'Lan, Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut

Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Statistics
215 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4120
Storrs, CT, 06269
www.stat.uconn.edu/~mlan

Stephen L. Schensul, Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut

Professor of Community Medicine and
Health Care,
Director of the Center for International Community Health Studies

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Published

07-03-2012

How to Cite

Obidoa, C. A., M’Lan, C. E., & Schensul, S. L. (2012). Factors associated with HIV/AIDS sexual risk among young women aged 15-24 years in Nigeria. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 3(1), e15. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2012.e15

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Original Articles

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