A SURVEY OF THE SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OVIA NORTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE (GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Human sexual behaviour refers to any activity (solitary, between two persons, or in a group), that induces sexual arousal. It may be the inherited sexual response patterns or other types of influence exerted on the individual by society in the expression of his sexuality (Gebhard, 2014). Anochie and Ikpeme (2010) defined sexual behaviour as the outcome of normal physiological changes occurring in adolescents. Wikipedia (2016) defined sexual behaviour as the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. People engage in a variety of sexual acts, ranging from activities done alone (e.g., masturbation) to acts with another person (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-penetrative sex, oral sex, etc.) in varying patterns of frequency, for a wide variety of reasons. Pam (2016) defined sexual behaviour as actions that lead to reproduction and stimulation of sexual organs for satisfaction without conception. Nwoke and Okafor (2012) quoting Wikipedia (2005) opined that sexual behaviour is a form of physical intimacy that may be directed to reproduction (one possible goal of sexual intercourse), spiritual transcendence, and/or the enjoyment of any activity involving sexual gratification. There are two major determinants of human sexual behaviour: the inherited sexual response patterns that have evolved as a means of ensuring reproduction and that are a part of each individual’s genetic inheritance, and the degree of restraint or other types of influence exerted on the individual by society in the expression of his sexuality (Gebhard, 2014).
Sexual behaviour among secondary school students is highly relevant to different public health problems (Crossette, 2005; Marston and King, 2006). For example, youth unprotected sexual intercourse contributes to unwanted pregnancies, abortions, pregnancy-related complications, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS (Tang, et al., 2011).
