Management of risky adolescent sexual behaviour in rural secondary schools in Zimbabwe
Keywords:
Adolescence, Risky sexual behaviour, Rural secondary schools, SexualityAbstract
The study was aimed at examining methods and strategies used by rural secondary schools of Zimbabwe in managing risky adolescent sexual behaviour with the view of recommending more protective practices and improving on the existing ones. Literature is replete with cases of high incidences of risky adolescent sexual behaviours in schools in various countries and the need for methods for managing them thereof. The study utilized a mixed methods sequential explanatory research design with 200 teachers chosen using cluster sampling for the quantitative phase and 10 teachers purposively sampled for the qualitative phase of the study. The results of the study indicated that the most common risky adolescent sexual behaviours included premarital and unprotected sex, dating older partners and having multiple partners. Prostitution was also found to be causing concern, although it was not widespread. Corporal punishment was found to be the most dominant method used for managing risky adolescent sexual behaviour, although protective methods such as counselling, information dissemination, parental engagement and social academic supports were also used. Of note was that the positive or protective methods lacked precision in their practice. The schools had also to some extent established programmes such as Scripture Union (SU), Career Guidance and Counselling Clubs (CGCCs) and Sex Education programmes as means of combating risky sexual behaviour among adolescent students. They also used resource persons. However, these programmes were not well established and properly utilized. From the results, the study concluded that management of risky adolescent sexual behaviour in rural secondary schools of Zimbabwe was not premised on theoretically sound methods and programmes and was therefore bound to be ineffective. The study also concluded that girls were more predisposed to risky adolescent sexual behaviour than boys. The study then recommended in favour of training and awareness workshops as well as gender mainstreaming towards capacitating teachers in rural schools with skills and strategies for protective management of risky adolescent sexual behaviour.
References
Action Health Incorporated, 2003. Meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people in Nigeria. A guide for action. Lagos, AHI.
Adegoke, A.A., 2003. Adolescents in Africa: revealing the problem of teenagers in contemporary African society. Ibadan, Hadassah Publishing.
Ajibade, B.L., Oyedele, E.A., Ajayi, A.D., Amoo, P.O., 2013. Adolescents health and management of sexual risk taking behaviour among selected secondary school students in Osun state, Nigeria. Eur. J. Bus. Manag., 5(29), 15-25.
Ananthakrishnan, S., Nalini, P., 2002. School absenteeism in a rural area in Tamilnadu. Indian Pediatr., 39(9), 847-850.
APA, 2002. Developing adolescents: A reference for professionals. Washington DC, American Psychological Society.
Caron, C., 2013. Using AIM education guidelines to understand and manage sexual behaviour. Children Update, 99.
CDC, 1995. Trends in sexual risk behaviour among high school student. United State (1990; 1991 and 1993). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports, 44(7), 124-132.
Chinawa, J.M., Manyike, P.C., Obu, H.A., Odetunde, O.I., Aniwada, E.C., Ndu, I.K., Chinawa, A.T., 2014. Behavioural disorders amongst adolescents attending secondary school in southeast Nigeria. Behav. Neurol., 10p.
Dietrich, V., 2003. An exploration of adolescent risk taking behaviour: A case study analysis.
Dryfoos, J.D., 1990. Adolescents at risk: Prevalence and prevention. New York, Oxford University Press.
Elkind, D., 1984. Egocentrism in adolescence. Child Dev., 38(4), 1024-1034.
Feldman, S.S., Elliot, G.R., 1990. At the threshold: The developing adolescent. Cambridge, Harvard University Press.
Government of Zimbabwe, 2010. Ministry of education, sport, arts and culture life skills, sexuality, HIV and AIDS education strategic plan (2012-2015). Harare, Government Printers.
Government of Zimbabwe, 2015. Adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Harare, ZDHS.
Government of Zimbabwe, 2016. Extended Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (ZNASP) 2015-2020: Commitment towards fast tracking 90 90 90 targets by 2020 and ending AIDS by 2030. Harare, Government Printers.
Government of Zimbabwe, 2016. Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) 2015. Harare, National Statistics Agency.
Gugyanga, E., Mbengo, F., Wadesango, N., 2014. Corporal punishment in schools: Issues and challenges. Mediterr. J. Soc. Sci., 5(9), 493-501.
Halpern, C.T., Udry, J.R., Campbell, B., Suchindran, C., 1993. Testosterone and pubertal development as predictors of sexual activity: A panel analysis of adolescent males. Psychosom. Med., 55(5), 436-447.
Iyang, M.P., 2013. Female secondary school adolescents’ sexual behavior and school based HIV/AIDS education program. J. Res., 8(2), 55-61.
Kwaja, P., Morma, F., 2010. Managing adolescents’ maladaptive behaviour in Nigerian secondary schools. Int. J. Res. Dev.
Matope, N., Mugodzwa, T., 2011. The prevalence of corporal punishment in Zimbabwean schools in the 21st century. The Dyke, 5(2), 95-109.
McGrath, K., 2010. Understanding and managing sexualised behaviour in children and adolescents. Guidelines for parents and carers. Dublin, CARI.
Mead, M., 1928. Coming of age in Samoa. New York, William Marrow & Co.
Moyo, T., 2018. Youths live at risk as more adolescents turn to early sex. The Chronicle, 01 February, 3p.
Obiekea, P.O., Ovri, F.B., Chukwuma, E.T.C., 2013. Sexual education: An intervention and social adjustment programme for youths in secondary education in Nigeria. Afr. Res. Rev., 7(1), 322-339.
Oluwatoyin, F.E., Modupe, O., 2014. Risky sexual behaviour among secondary school adolescents in Ibadan north local government area, Nigeria. IOSR J. Nurs. Health Sci., 3(3), 34-44.
Oyinloye, O.A., 2014. Sexual education for wholesome sexual behaviour among in-school Nigerian adolescents. Int. J. Cross-Disciplin. Subject. Educ., 4(1), 1879-1883.
Rashid, S., Mwale, M., 2016. The effects of sex education on the risky sexual behaviour of school going adolescents: A case study of Mbenjere secondary, Ntaja and Nsanama community day secondary schools. Psychol. Dev. Soc., 28(1), 126-138.
Sambisa, W., Chandiwana, B., Curtis, S.L., Munyathi, S., Mahati, S., Mashange, W., 2008. Predictors of premarital sexual experience among adolescents in a rural setting in Zimbabwe. A paper presented at the 2008 population association of American annual meeting, April 17-19, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Santrock, J.W., 2002. A topical approach to life-span development. Boston, McGraw Hill.
Schmied, V., Tully, L., 2009. Effective strategies and interventions for adolescents in a child protection context. Ashfield, Centre for Parenting and Research.
Shittu, L.A.J., Zachariah, M.P., Ajayi, G., Oguntola, J.A., Izegbu, M.C., Ashiru, O.A., 2007. The negative impacts of adolescent sexuality problems among secondary school students in Oworonshoki, Lagos. Sci. Res. Essay, 2(1), 23-28.
Simons-Morton, B.G., Crump, A.D., Haynie, D.L., Saylor, K.E., 1999. Student-school bonding and adolescent problem behaviour. Health Educ. Res., 14(1), 99-107.
Temitayo, O., Nayaya, M.A., Lukkman, A.A., 2013. Management of disciplinary problems in secondary schools: Jalingo metropolis in focus. Glob. J. Hum. Soc. Sci., 8(14).
Terzian, M.A., Andrews, K.M., Moore, K.A., 2011. Preventing multiple risky behaviours and adolescents: Seven strategies. Brief Research to Results (Trends Child), 24.
Washaya, Y., 2013. Zimbabwe launches an education strategy on life skills, sexuality and HIV and AIDS. Harare, UNICEF.
WHO, 2003. The health of youth, facts for action. Youth and Reproductive Health, 1-11.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2020 Patrick Sibanda
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
