Sex Trading And Academic Performance Among Female Students In Akwa Ibom State University

Sex trading, prostitution and transactional sex among female undergraduate students flourishes in most tertiary institutions, posing serious challenges on health and academic performances among female students in Nigerian Universities. This study examined the relationship between sex trading and academic performance among female students in Akwa Ibom State University. Merton's Strain Theory which sees female students as engaging in sex trading (an illegitimate means) to achieve better academic outcomes was adopted as a theoretical framework for the study. Taro Yamane sampling technique was used to obtain the sample size of 348 for data analysis across the four (4) Faculties in Obio Akpa Campus. The study adopted Survey research design with primary and secondary methods of data collection using a well structured questionnaire as its instrument. Hypotheses were tested using chi square statistical technique. The study revealed a significant relationship between sex trading and poor academic performance among female students in Akwa Ibom State University. As evidence of the findings of the study increased, awareness programmes is needed to pull female student out of this social ills in Akwa Ibom State University.