Influence of Socio-demographic Factors on Adolescent’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Behaviour

Abstract

Adolescents form a significant portion of the population whose health must be safeguarded in order to ensure a future healthy population. Adolescent sexual development comprises a variety of physical, biological, social and psychological changes which give rise to a mature adult physique and personality. Because of these numerous changes, adolescents can be easily influenced by the factors surrounding them with resultant effects like sexually transmitted infection(s), teenage pregnancy and fatherhood, septic abortion which will affect their future reproductive and sexual lives. The socio-demographic factors identified to affect sexual and reproductive development and behavior include sex, age, peer group, family structure, culture, alcohol and drug use and socio-economic condition of the family all of which have been identified by research. It can be concluded that these factors can also influence adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health and therefore need to be modified to prevent adolescent sexual risk behavior and achieve a healthy population. It is therefore necessary that a good parent-child relationship and communication exist between adolescents and their parents as family is the strongest unit of socialization for an adolescent and also the degree of support from the family will determine the outcome of the developmental stage. Therefore, the need of adolescent reproductive health services which can help reinforce parental efforts cannot be over-emphasized.