The influence of religiosity and ethnic commitment on risky sexual behaviour in Benue State, Nigeria

Risky sexual behaviour (RSB) predisposes individuals to infectious diseases and psychosocial issues. Compared to developed countries, RSB is commoner in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Some factors, such as religiosity and ethnic commitment, are rarely investigated in relation to RSB. This study aimed to assess (1) the prevalence of RSB and associated factors; (2) the influence of religiosity and ethnicity on RSB. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Benue State, Nigeria. Between May and June 2023, we surveyed 348 respondents using systematic random sampling. We used linear regression to test the association between RSB and explanatory variables. SPSS version 26 was used to analyze the data. About two-thirds (64.7%) were males, with a mean age of 34.7 ± 14.1. Most belonged to the Jukun tribe (32.2%), followed by the Hausa tribe (22.3%) and the Tiv tribe (17.1%). Half (50.3%) of the participants reported RSB. At the multivariate analysis, being religious (β: -0.032; p: 0.003) and being a female (β: -0.715; p: <0.001) were negatively associated with RSB; those that belong to the Igbo (β: 1.265; p: 0.006) and Tiv (β: 0.989; p: 0.026) tribes and experienced rape at first sexual encounter (β: 0.785; p: 0.025) had a higher likelihood of engaging in RSB. RSB is common among our population, especially among substance users and men. Unlike religiosity, ethnic commitment did not influence RSB. There is a need to provide culturally tailored interventions to reduce RSB in Benue State, Nigeria.