SEX EDUCATION AND TEENAGE PREGNANCY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ONA ARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research examined the level of awareness of teenagers on sex education and pregnancy with its formation among adolescent of reproductive age. Ona Ara local government area was purposively selected due to rampage of teenage pregnancies and rural area which might be cause of unawareness and dreams damage, 110 students were randomly selected from the 11 secondary schools from the 11wards in the local government area. Majority of the teenagers (98.1%) were aware of sex education through their friends, classmates, social media, parents, class lectures, novels, pornography books, religion gatherings and video clips while 1.9% have
not. 69.4% of the respondents were aware of pregnancy formations while 30.6% have never. There is significant association between sex education and teenage pregnancy at p<0.05. It was revealed that teenagers are well aware of sex education and pregnancy formation through the third parties (friends, classmates, phonographs e.t.c.) compare to their parents. This unguarded sex information may aid exuberant engagement in unlawful, sinful acts and unknowingly fell out of the rightful part been guided from onset. It is thereby recommended that parents should be more alive to the responsibility of getting the children the rightful information.