ADOLESCENCE ATTITUDE TOWARDS SEX EDUCATION AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR COUNCELLING.

ABSTRACT

Adolescent sexuality has been viewed from a negative perspective due to the adolescent’s sexual behavior and its associated unpalatable outcomes. This is because morality of the young once is of great importance to educators and counsellors around the globe. It is due to this fact that this studies is conducted to help educate the young once (adolescence) on the sexual attitude and morality and  to find out about adolescents attitude towards sex education and their opinions on various sexual issues that are incumbent on development to adulthood sexuality. It was also to establish the need for sex education in secondary schools in uyo metropolis.

The sample consist of 100 senior secondary school students randomly selected from four secondary schools in uyo local government area. To this end a questionnaire was constructed and issued for data collection and testing of hypothesis which was generated.

INTRODUCTION

The end of the nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century represented an important period in the invention of the concept we now call adolescence. Adolescence can be described as the period between the latter stage of childhood and early stage of adulthood (Health Foundation of Ghana, 2004). The World Health Organization (W. H. O. [1975]) suggested adolescence to be the period between the ages of 10 and 19 or the second decade of life. Adolescents, therefore, refer to boys and girls who fall within this stage or period. From Aristotle’s early treatises on sexual desire to Sigmund , Freud’s theories of psychosocial development adolescent sexuality adolescent sexuality has been controversial topic for virtually every generation.

Sex education simply refers to the systematic attempt to promote the healthy awareness in the individual on matters of his or her sexual development, functioning, behavior and attitudes through direct teaching. Sex is a topic, which most people would not like to talk about. The Ghanaian parents’ attitude to sex is that the child will grow to know. In the home, when the child is present and parents are discussing issues about sex, even the adolescent child is kept away from sight. An inquisitive child who ventures to ask questions about sex is morally branded “a bad” child. Many societies and homes consider discussions of sexual issues as a taboo. In view of this, most parents find it too difficult, awkward and uncomfortable to discuss sex related issues with their children. Children are condemned when they mention a word referring to some sexual organ or act. Even the hands of babies are hit whenever they fondle with their sex organs. Due to this, throughout adolescence, the youth in the country learn about sex and sexuality in a variety of ways devoid, in most cases, of factual and empirical information and in secrecy.

The child comes to know about sex possibly from an early age through relatives, friends, the elderly, movies and drawing. A 14year- old adolescent was asked where he learned about sex. He responded, “in the streets.” Asked if this was the only place, he said, ‘Well, I learned some from playboy and other sex magazines”. What about school, he was asked. He responded, “No, they talk about hygiene, but not much that could help you out”. When asked his parents’ contributions, he replied, “They haven’t told me one thing”. (Powers and Baskin, 1969).

In a similar survey contained in the Population Report (1995), seventy five percent of the students sampled preferred to discuss about bodily changes that occur during adolescence with peers of the same sex, none of them wanted it to be with their parents. As a result of a cultural taboo, adolescents in many developing countries rarely discuss sexual matters explicitly with their parents. Most information for their patchy knowledge often comes from peers of the same sex, who may themselves be uninformed or incorrectly informed.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Researchers have observed that there is prevalence of premarital sexual practices among adolescents, the teenagers in contemporary society, which leads to high incidence of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Most writers and school authorities frown upon adolescents’ indulgence in premarital sex. Some communities carry out disciplinary action on youths who indulge in it. The Federal Health Management Board engages in series of campaigns to create public awareness on the danger and circulation of sexually transmitted diseases. But in this study, literature is lacking on the attitude of adolescents towards premarital sex education. Given the amount of public concern for the consequences of apparent adolescents indulgence in premarital sex, finding out the adolescents’ attitude will provide the necessary information for planning useful intervention programs aimed at solving the problems arising from seemingly adolescent’ premarital sexual practices.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1. To evaluate the level of sex education and counselling among the adolescent
2. To ascertain ascertain the factors influencing adolescent education
3. To know the adolescent attitude towards premarital sex

4. To evaluate the impact of sex education and counseling among adolescent

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

The following research questions were formulated to guide the researcher in the study.

1. What are the adolescent attitudes towards premarital sex?
2. What are the factors influence adolescents attitudes towards premarital

sex?

3. What is the adolescent attitude towards premarital sex education?
4. Is there any importance to educate and counsel the adolescent on sex?

2 purpose of the study

The purpose of the study is to highlight the dangers of sexual illiteracy and lack of counselling among adolescent, and to analyze its implication among secondary school student in our society.

Related Project Topics :