Sexual Behaviour and Determinants of Reproductive Health Services Utilization Among Young People in a Rural Nigerian Community

Background: Adolescents in West Africa face humungous sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges unlike their counterparts in developed countries. It is thus, important to contextually understand some of the factors influencing uptake of SRH services among young people in a low resource setting. Objectives: This study assessed sexual behaviour and predictors of SRH-services access and utilization of youths in Ejigbo, Osun-State, Nigeria. Methods: Cross-sectional design was used and multi-stage sampling method deployed in recruiting 430 study participants. Data were collected using pretested, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Summary statistics were done using proporption, mean and standard deviation. Inferential statistics were done using chi-squared test and binary logistic regression at p≤0.05. Results: Mean age (±SD) of the respondents was 19.07±2.78, 54.1% of them were males while 56.8% were schooling as at the time of the survey. More than a quarter (38.6%) of the respondents were sexually active prior to the survey and 14.6% of the recent sexual encounters were forced/coerced. While 25.2% had multiple sexual partners, only 43.0% used contraception (mainly condom) in their recent sexual experiences. The predictors of contraceptive (hence SRH-service) use were respondents’ schooling status (OR=5.45, 95%CI=1.26-4.388), living situation (OR=0.430, 95%CI=1.960-3.8111) and demand for SRH services in the last clinic visits (OR=2.976, 95%CI=1.960-7.848). Conclusion: There was high prevalence of risky sexual behaviour and low SRH service utilization in the study setting. Nigerian government and its development partners need to be more proactive at ensuring universal access and utilization of SRH-services particularly to young people in the rural areas.