Assessing Sexual Communication And Condom Negotiation Among University Undergraduate Students In Sexual Relationship; In The Era Of HIV/AIDS.

Abstract

This study assessed the level of sexual communication and condom negotiation among University of Lagos undergraduate students in sexual relationships in the era of HIV/AIDS. There is a heavy burden of STDs including HIV/AIDS infections and abortion in the country. The young ones account for greater number of STDs infected and affected in the nation's population. Statistics have shown that individuals, families and government at all level invest huge resources in preventing, controlling and managing various types of STDs in the country. Two hundred student participants within the age range of 18 to 30 years, selected from different faculties of the University of Lagos participated in the study. Questionnaire was developed after pilot test was carried and sexuality and reproductive literature review. The research instrument was divided into three sections consisting of the socio-demographic scale, sexual communication scale (SCS) and condom negotiation inventory (CNI). Student participants were selected from different faculties including faculty of arts, education, sciences and social sciences through random sampling technique. Results indicated that females tend to negotiate more of condom utilisation than males, (P<.05) while no significant influence was found of gender on sexual communication. Other results showed that age, religion and ethnic group of participants did not influence neither sexual communication nor condom utilisation among selected participants in the study (P >.05).
The implication of this study is that young adults are lacking in sexuality education which provides accurate information on issues relating to sexuality, helps individuals to develop sexual attitudes that will develop values and insight on how to create and develop interpersonal relationships with members of the opposite sex and also equip them with interpersonal skills such as communication, assertiveness, refusal skills and decision making that will enable them to make responsible decisions and accept responsibility for their behaviour.

IFE PsychologIA Vol. 16 (2) 2008: pp. 188-209