PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR AMONG ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE ADOLESCENTS IN ORPHANAGES IN IBADAN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Risky sexual behaviour (RSB) and its associated social, physical, and mental health consequences pose a growing public health
concern worldwide, particularly among Orphans and Vulnerable Adolescents (OVA) due to their heightened vulnerability.
This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing RSB among OVAs residing in orphanages within Ibadan, Oyo State,
Nigeria. A cross-sectional study encompassing OVAs from ten orphanages was conducted, employing a total population
survey approach. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilized to gather data on respondents' socio-demographic
characteristics and their engagement in RSB. RSB indicators were identified using the Youth Risk Behavior Study tool,
alongside inquiries about drug and alcohol use. The association between categorical variables was assessed using chi-square
tests, while predictors of RSB were identified through logistic regression analysis, maintaining a significance level of 5%. The
study included 214 respondents, among whom 42 (19.6%) reported ever engaging in sexual activity, with a mean age at first
sexual debut of 13.4 years. Approximately 40 (18.4%) of the respondents exhibited at least one of the three RSB indicators.
Marital status (unmarried parents; p=0.005), lower educational attainment of the respondent (p=0.004), alcohol consumption
(p<0.05), and drug use (p<0.05) were significantly associated with RSB in the initial bivariate analysis. However, in the logistic
regression model, only a history of alcohol consumption (95% CI=3.6-31.7; p = 0.00) remained a significant independent
predictor of RSB. This study highlights a noteworthy association between alcohol use and RSB among OVAs residing in
orphanages, underscoring the importance of addressing alcohol-related factors in interventions aimed at reducing RSB in this
vulnerable population.