Pattern of Risky Sexual and Reproductive Behaviour among Adolescents in Keffi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State-Nigeria

The incidence of sexual intercourse is prevalent among adolescents. Adolescents engage in several risky sexual and reproductive behaviour like the early sexual debut, having mi 1 iple sexual partners, unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion. This is even though society frowns at this incidence as adolescents are expected to abstain from sex. Thus, the objective of this paper is to x-ray the pattern of risky sexual and reproductive behaviour in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State- Nigeria. A descriptive research design irai adopted. Primary data were obtained using both quantitative and qualitative methods. In the survey, 344 questionnaires were distributed among the sample size using multi-stage sampling techniques of Wards, settlements, households and individuals and six Focus Group Discussions were also conducted. Also, qualitative data was collected using Focus Group Discussion among adolescents. Descriptive and inferential statistics of the data were carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Windows version 25.0. Results revealed that most adolescents who have had sex started having sex between the ages of I0-I4years. In the same vein, most adolescents have two or more sexual partners hence the incidence of multiple sexual partners. Equally, it was discovered that these induced abortions are often conducted by roadside chemists and or the use ofself-administered pills. The use of some form ofprotection during sexual intercourse is low despite the knowledge of such methods by adolescents. Thus, it is recommended that there is a need for adequate sex education among adolescents to ensure that sexual practice is safe. Sexual education programmes will go a long way in ensuring that adolescents who engage in sexual intercourse protect themselves from risky sexual pract ices such as abortion, multiple partnering, early sexual debut and unplanned pregnancy. Government and major educational stakeholders should include sex education into school curriculums both in the late years of primary education and in secondaiy school.