KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF SEXUALITY EDUCATION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ETHIOPE EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DELTA STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the knowledge, attitude and perception of sexuality education among secondary school students in Ethiope East Local Government area, Delta State. Four research questions and one hypothesis were raised and formulated respectively. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 18,525, while the sample size was 495 respondents and was drawn through multi-stage sampling procedures. A selfstructured questionnaire was used for the study, it was content and face validated by three experts, while the reliability was determined through Split-half method. Data were analyzed using frequency counts and percentages for the research questions while the formulated hypothesis was tested using two sample independent t-tests at 0.05 significant level. The findings revealed that majority of the secondary school students have relatively high knowledge of sexuality education. It was perceived that secondary school students should be exposed to sexuality education at the appropriate time by parents, schools and other major stakeholders of education. Lastly, the study revealed significant difference in knowledge between male and female student on sexuality education. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that: Knowledge of sexuality education should be sustained and encouraged through constant and consistent dissemination of vital sexuality information in media and negative attitudes and perceptions toward sexuality education should be mitigated through the employment of qualified health educators that would help to modify their attitudes during and after lectures in class rooms.