Availability, Accessibility and Utilisation of Sex Education Information Resources among Undergraduates in a Nigerian University of Education

Abstract

Access to accurate sex education information resources (SEIR) and its utilisation are critical for reproductive health well-being and informed decision-making of humans including undergraduates. However, the extent to which these undergraduates find and use reliable information remains inconsistent. Therefore this study examined availability, accessibility and utilisation of sex education information resources among undergraduates in Tai Solarin Federal University of Education. The descriptive survey research design of the ex-post facto type and mixed method of quantitative and qualitative method was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of undergraduates across the six colleges in the university. Using proportionate stratified random sampling technique the undergraduates were stratified based on the Colleges. From each stratum a proportionate 5% (1,001) sample size was drawn. Questionnaire and Focus Group discussion was used as the data collection instrument. A cohort of 18 students were randomly selected based on ballot from 38 academic departments across the six colleges. Findings revealed that hospitals (63.1%), primary health care centres (61.1%) and social media platforms (612, 61.1%) were moderately available while the most accessible resources were Radio/television (583, 58.2%), and family members (543, 54.2%). The findings further revealed a strong positive relationship between availability and accessibility (r = 0.762, p < 0.01), accessibility and utilisation(r = 0.783, p < 0.01) of SEIR. The study concluded that the strong positive relationship between availability, accessibility and utilisation of SEIR indicates that convenience, privacy, and ease of access are the primary determinants of whether the undergraduates will actually use the SEIR. The study recommended that the university should incorporate sex education in the curriculum of GNS course for all undergraduate students.