Factors Influencing Risky Sexual Behaviours Among Senior High School Students in Hohoe Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

The study investigated the factors which influence risky sexual behaviours among students in Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Hohoe Municipality. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A sample of 354 students from a population of 4,380 was selected using the proportional stratified sampling technique. Data were collected using questionnaire adapted from the instruments of Asiedu (2016) and Mcharo, Olomi, Mayaud and Msuya (2020). The data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that 44.4% of the respondents had had sexual intercourse and the age of first sexual intercourse was between the ages of 16 and 19 years. More than a quarter of the respondents indicated that they had risky sexual behaviours. The study revealed that peer pressure, poor parental upbringing, social media and poor socio-economic background influenced risky sexual behaviours among students. Also, sex education, health education programmes, physical activities and counselling services were some major ways participants indicated for minimising risky sexual behaviours. Significant gender difference was found in risky sexual behaviours while no significant difference was found in risky sexual behaviours on the basis of age. Finally, no significant gender difference was found in the factors influencing risky sexual behaviours while significant age difference was found in the factors influencing risky sexual behaviours. The study recommended that senior high school authorities in the Hohoe Municipality collaborate with agencies responsible for sex education to organise outreach programmes for students in order for them to adopt less risky sexual behaviours