WHISPERS AND REALITIES: EXPLORING LEARNINGS ABOUT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN POLYTECHNIC OF IBADAN
Keywords:
sexual and reproductive health, young adults, knowledge and attitudes, polytechnic studentsAbstract
This study examined the sources of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) learning, the level of knowledge, and the attitudes of students at the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Nigeria. Employing a descriptive survey research design, a multistage sampling procedure was employed for the study. First, the institution was stratified into faculties, and through accidental sampling techniques, a total of 50 students were selected from the available students each faculty at the time of the study, making a total number of 250 respondents. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, Sources of Learning, Knowledge and Attitude to Sexual & Reproductive Health Questionnaire (SLKASRHQ) and analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that the most utilised sources of SRH learning among students were the internet (30.6), media (14.6), Friends (13.9), and schools (11.6), highlighting the predominance of informal and digital platforms over parental or health-institutional guidance. Results also showed that students demonstrated a relatively high level of knowledge of SRH, including awareness of contraceptive us ( = 3.30), the consequences of unsafe abortion ( = 3.29), awareness of HIV/AIDs is very important ( = 3.88), and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) ( = 3.66), Furthermore, the majority of students exhibited favourable attitudes toward SRH, indicating concerns about STDs ( = 3.39), acceptance of contraception ( = 3.26), and rejection of misconceptions such as the denial of HIV/AIDS existence ( = 1.24). The study concludes that students at the Polytechnic of Ibadan rely heavily on the internet, media, and peers for SRH information, reflecting both opportunities and risks associated with informal sources.
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