Reproductive knowledge, sexual behaviour and contraceptive use among adolescents in Niger State of Nigeria.

Eight hundred and ninety six adolescents aged 11–25 years were recruited into this study using a multi-stage random sampling method. Overall, about 33% of them had already had first sexual experience but more males than females reported having experienced first sexual encounter. Only 3.6% of the respondents were married. Half of the sexually experienced adolescents had more than one sexual partner at the time of the study. Majority of the respondents (91.9%) had heard information about HIV/AIDS and at least a STD. A wide disparity was found in knowledge and use of the contraceptive methods studied, ranging from 41.9% to 63.8% for knowledge and from 0.7% to 12.5% for use. Knowledge and use of condom was highest. For prevention of HIV/AIDS, more males than females thought condom was useful. More Gwari and Hausa respondents claimed that they did not use any family planning method during their first sexual relationship than Yoruba and Igbo respondents. There is need for reproductive health programmes to intensify efforts towards improving adolescents\' attitudes to risky sexual behaviours and motivate them to undertake behaviours that would limit such risks. (Afr J Reprod Health 2003; 7[1]: 37–48) Resume Les comportements reproductifs, sexuels et contraceptifs des adolescents dans l\'Etat de Niger au Nigeria. Huit cent quatre-vingt-seize adolescents âges de 11–25 ans ont ete recrutes pour faire partie de cette etude qui a ete effectue a l\'aide de la methode d\'echantillonnage a multiples etapes. D\'ensemble, environ 33% d\'eux avaient deja eu un premier rapport sexuel, mais il y avaient plus des hommes qui avaient declare avoir eu une premiere experience du rapport sexuel. Seuls 3,6% des interroges etaient maries. La moitie des adolescents qui etaient sexuellement experimentes avaient plus d\'un partenaire sexuel au moment ou l\'etude a ete menee. La majorite des interroges (91,9%) etaient au courant de l\'existence du VIH/SIDA et au moins d\'une MST. Il y avait un grand ecart entre la connaissance et l\'emploi des methodes contraceptives, qui allait de 41,99% jusqu\'a 63,8% pour la connaissance et de 0,7% a 12,5% pour l\'emploi. La connaissance et l\'emploi du preservatif etaient les plus eleves. Quant a la prevention du VIH/SIDA, il y avait plus des hommes que des femmes qui ont pense que le preservatif etait utile. Plus des interroges d\'origine gwari et haoussa que les interroges d\'origine yorubas et ibo ont declare qu\'ils n\'avaient pas employe la methode de planification familiale au cours de leurs premiers rapports sexuels. Il faut que les programmes de la sante reproductive intensifient leurs efforts vers l\'amelioration des attitudes des adolescents envers les comportements sexuels a risque et de les motiver de facon a ce qu\'ils puissent se comporter de maniere a reduire de tels risques. (Rev Afr Sante Reprod 2003; 7[1]: 37–48) Key Words: Adolescents, contraception, sexual behaviour, Nigeria