DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE PROJECT

1 Users found this project useful

Impact of Sexual and Reproductive Health Education on Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Practices among University Students in Nigeria

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain an important public health concern among young adults and university students because of factors such as sexual behaviour, inadequate knowledge, inconsistent preventive practices, stigma, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, and misconceptions about STI transmission and prevention. Sexual and reproductive health education provides university students with accurate and age-appropriate information about sexual health, STI transmission, signs and symptoms, risk factors, safer sexual practices, condom use, sexual partner communication, testing and screening, vaccination where applicable, treatment, partner notification, and appropriate healthcare-seeking. STI prevention practices refer to the actions undertaken by individuals to reduce their risk of acquiring or transmitting sexually transmitted infections, including consistent and correct condom use, appropriate sexual health communication, STI testing, limiting exposure to risky sexual practices, seeking professional care when symptoms occur, and adherence to recommended preventive measures. In Nigeria, inadequate STI prevention practices among university students may be associated with limited access to reliable sexual health information, misconceptions, stigma, peer influence, inconsistent condom use, fear of testing, limited access to confidential healthcare services, and misinformation. Effective sexual and reproductive health education may improve students' knowledge, risk perception, confidence, and adoption of appropriate STI prevention practices. Against this background, this study investigates the impact of sexual and reproductive health education on sexually transmitted infection prevention practices among university students in Nigeria. The study is anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice framework. The Health Belief Model provides a framework for understanding students' STI prevention decisions through perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits of preventive practices, perceived barriers, and cues to action. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes the interaction between knowledge, self-efficacy, peer and social influences, and environmental conditions in shaping sexual health behaviour. The Knowledge-Attitude-Practice framework provides a basis for examining how sexual and reproductive health education may improve students' knowledge and attitudes and influence STI prevention practices. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how sexual and reproductive health education may influence STI prevention practices among university students in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental research design. Primary data will be collected from undergraduate students in selected Nigerian universities using a structured self-administered questionnaire and a standardized STI knowledge and prevention-practices assessment tool. A multistage sampling technique will be employed to select universities, faculties or departments, academic levels, and eligible students. Where feasible, selected student groups or university settings will be assigned to intervention and comparison groups. Students in the intervention group will receive structured sexual and reproductive health education covering STI transmission, signs and symptoms, risk factors, safer sexual practices, consistent and correct condom use, sexual partner communication, STI testing and screening, vaccination where applicable, treatment, partner notification, stigma reduction, and appropriate healthcare-seeking. STI prevention practices will be assessed using indicators such as consistent and correct condom use, STI testing, appropriate healthcare-seeking, sexual health communication, knowledge and application of risk-reduction practices, and adherence to recommended preventive measures. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize students' sociodemographic characteristics, previous exposure to sexual health education, STI knowledge, and prevention-practice scores. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, paired-sample tests, independent-sample tests, and multiple regression analysis, will be used to determine the impact of sexual and reproductive health education on STI prevention practices. Where appropriate, prevention practices before and after the intervention will be compared. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability of the research instruments, model assumptions, goodness of fit, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that sexual and reproductive health education has a significant positive impact on STI prevention practices among university students in Nigeria. Students exposed to structured sexual and reproductive health education are expected to demonstrate improved knowledge of STI transmission, symptoms, risk factors, prevention, testing, and treatment. Education may increase students' confidence in adopting safer sexual practices, improve consistent and correct condom use, encourage appropriate STI testing and screening, strengthen communication with sexual partners, and promote timely professional healthcare-seeking when symptoms or exposure occur. Comprehensive and non-stigmatizing education may also reduce misconceptions and fear surrounding STI testing and treatment. However, education alone may not guarantee sustained preventive practices because students may continue to encounter barriers such as stigma, concerns about confidentiality, limited access to affordable sexual health services, peer and social pressures, misinformation, and inconsistent availability of condoms and testing services. Consequently, sexual and reproductive health education is expected to be most effective when supported by confidential and youth-friendly healthcare services, accessible STI testing, reliable preventive supplies, trained health educators, and supportive university health policies. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on sexual and reproductive health, STI prevention, university student health, health education, adolescent and young adult health, community health, and public health in Nigeria by providing empirical evidence on the impact of sexual and reproductive health education on STI prevention practices among university students. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, universities, university health centres, state ministries of health, public health programmes, nurses, physicians, health educators, counsellors, community health workers, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving STI prevention among young adults. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education into university health programmes, strengthening STI prevention and testing services, improving access to confidential and youth-friendly healthcare, promoting correct condom use, addressing sexual health misinformation and stigma, strengthening peer and community health education, and promoting responsible sexual health practices among university students in Nigeria.

Keywords: Sexual and reproductive health education, sexually transmitted infection prevention practices, university students, Nigeria, STI prevention, sexual health education, condom use, STI testing, reproductive health, youth health, health promotion, community health, public health.