Role of Family Function on Sexual Risk Behaviors among In-School Adolescents in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria

A bstract Background: Adolescents engage in sexual risk behaviors predisposing them to sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy. The role of family function in these behaviors is poorly understood. Objectives: This study determined the relationship between family function and sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 546 in-school adolescents selected through multi-stage sampling from public secondary schools in Ekiti State. Their family function and sexual behaviors were assessed using a validated, self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Epi-Info 7, and univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between family function and sexual risk behaviors at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The mean age of respondents was 15.0 ± 1.6 years; the majority 361 (66.7%) were females, and 188 (34.4%) were from dysfunctional families. A total of 98 (18.0%) respondents had initiated sex, 56 (10.3%) had sex 3 months preceding the survey, and 29 (5.3%) had sex under the influence of alcohol. Among the sexually active, 57 (58.8%) had multiple sex partners in their lifetime, while 32 (32.7%) used a condom at their last sexual exposure. Adolescents from dysfunctional families were 1.89 times more likely to have initiated sex (aOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.18–3.03), 2.81 times more likely to have sex influenced by alcohol (aOR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.25–6.09), and 1.88 times more likely to have had sex within the past 3 months (aOR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.06–3.33) compared with those from functional families. Conclusion: A dysfunctional family is a significant risk factor for adolescents’ high-risk sexual behaviors.