Interest in the socio-cultural context of adolescents’ sexual knowledge and
behaviour has proliferated recently. But the irony is that very little of this
debate is informed by what adolescents themselves say about sex, sexuality, and
their experiences of them. This study uses data emerging from a survey of adolescent
boys in rural south-eastern Nigeria to track the influence of socio-cultural forces
on adolescents’ views of sex, sexuality, and sexual relationships.
Findings suggest that social gatekeepers (parents, mass media, peers, teachers and
others), local gender norms, and cultural narratives about sex, sexuality, and
sexual expectations exert considerable influence on adolescents’ ideas of
sex, sexuality, and relationships. We argue that the mediation of
adolescents’ notions of sex and sexuality by prevailing and deeply
embedded patriarchal norms of gender relations and sexuality may facilitate unsafe
sexual practices among male adolescents and sustain the cultural devaluation of
women. We conclude that sexuality education programmes urging courses of action,
which involve only individual adolescents, must find ways to identify and reach out
to those groups and individuals that are critical to shaping the behaviours and
views of adolescents on sex and sexuality.
Aarons, S. J.
and
Jenkins, R. R.
(2002)
‘Sex, Pregnancy, and Contraception-related Motivators and
Barriers among Latino and African American Youth in Washington, DC’
, Sex Education2(1):
5–30
.
2.
Abia, F. P. (2002) ‘Factors Influencing the Utilization of Orthodox
Health Facilities in the Treatment of STDs Among Youths in Ibiono Ibom, Akwa Ibom
State, Nigeria’, unpublished BSc Thesis, Dept of Sociology/Anthropology,
University of Uyo, Nigeria.
3.
Acholonu, C.
(1987) ‘Folklore Origins of the
Igbo’, Nigerian Magazine 55, pp. 57–64.
4.
Adegbola, O.
and
Babatola, O.
(1999) ‘Premarital and Extramarital Sex in
Lagos, Nigeria’, in
O. Orubuloye
and
F. Oguntimehin
(eds) The Continuing HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Africa: Responses and Coping
Strategies, pp. 71–89.
The Health Transition Centre, Australia
.
5.
Araoye, M.
and
Fakeye, O. O.
(1998)
‘Sexuality and Contraception Among Nigerian Adolescent and Youth’
, African Journal of Reproductive Health2(2):
142–150
.
6.
Ashford, L.
(2001) New Population Policies, Advancing Women’s
Health and Rights.
Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau
.
7.
Awusabo-Asare, K.
and
Anarfi, J.
(1999) ‘Rethinking the Circumstances Surrounding
the First Sexual Experiences of AIDS Patients in Ghana’, in
I. O. Orubuloye
&
F. Oguntimehin
(eds) The Continuing HIV/AIDS in Africa; Responses and Coping
Strategies pp. 9–18.
The Health Tansition Centre, Australia National University, Canberra
.
8.
Barker, G.
(1996) ‘The Misunderstood Gender: Male Involvement
in the Family and in Reproductive and Sexual Health in Latin America and the
Caribbean’.
Chicago, IL: John D. and Catherine T. Macarthur Foundation
.
9.
Baro, M. I.
(1988) Acción de Ideología.
Psicología Social de Centroamerica.
San Salvador, El Salvador: University of
Central America (UCA)
.
10.
Bloor, M. J.
,
McKeganey, N. P.
,
Finlay, A.
and
Barnard, M. A.
(1992)
‘The Inappropriateness of Psycho-Social Models of Risk Behaviour
for Understanding HIV-Related Risk Practices among Glasgow Male Prostitutes’
, AIDS Care4:
131–137
.
11.
Bourgois, P.
(1998)
‘The Moral Economics of Homeless Heroin Addicts: Ethnography, HIV
Risk and Everyday Violence in San Francisco Shooting Encampments’
, Substance Use and Misuse33:
2322–2351
.
12.
Brown, L. K.
,
DiClemente, R. J.
and
Reynolds, L. A.
(1991)
‘HIV Prevention for Adolescents; Utility of the Health Belief Model’
, AIDS Education and Prevention3:
50–59
.
13.
Cornwall, A.
and
Welbourn, A.
(2000)
‘From Reproduction to Rights: Participatory Approaches to Sexual
and Reproductive Health’
, PLA Notes37:
14–21
.
14.
Emuveyan, E. E.
(1996)
‘Profile of Abortion in Nigeria’
, African Journal of Fertility, Sexuality, and Reproductive Health1(1):
10–16
.
15.
Engelhard, P.
and
Seek, M.
(1999)
‘Sexual Behaviour and Cultural Context with Special Reference to Senegal’
, Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives (1 and
2):
5–25
.
16.
Eyre, S. L.
,
Davis, E. W.
and
Peacock, B.
(2001)
‘Moral Argumentation in Adolescents’ Commentaries about Sex’
, Culture, Health and Sexuality3(1):
1–17
.
17.
Feijoo, A. N.
(2001) ‘Adolescent Sexual Health in Europe and the
U.S. – Why the Difference?Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth
.
18.
Giddens, A.
(1991) Modernity and Self-identity; Self and Society in the
Late Modern Age (
Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press
).
19.
Grassroot Health and Environmental Protection International (GAHEPI)
(1996) The Grassroot Health and Environmental Protection
International (GAHEPI); Aims and Vision.
Aba, Nigeria: GAHEPI
.
20.
Halstead, J. M.
and
Waite, S.
(2001)
‘Living in Different Worlds: Gender Differences in the Developing
Sexual Values and Attitudes of Primary School Children’
, Sex Education1:
59–76
.
21.
Ho, P. S.
and
Tsang, A. K.
(2002)
‘The Things Girls Shouldn’t See: Relocating the Penis
in Sex Education in Hong Kong’
, Sex Education2(1):
61–73
.
22.
Holland, J.
and
Ramazanoglu, C.
(1994) ‘Coming to Conclusion: Power and
Interpretation: Researching Young Women’s
Sexuality’, in
M. Maynard
and
J. Purvis
(eds) Researching Women’s Lives from a Feminist
Perspective, pp. 42–59.
London: Taylor and Walker
.
23.
Igbal, H. S.
(1998)
‘Sexual and Reproductive Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview’
, African Journal of Reproductive Health2(2):
99–117
.
24.
Izugbara, C. O.
(2000)
‘Women’s Understanding of Factors Affecting their
Reproductive Health in a Rural Ngwa Community’
, African Journal of Reproductive Health4(2):
60–68
.
25.
Izugbara, C. O.
(2001)
‘Tasting the Forbidden Fruits: The Social Context of Debut Sexual
Encounters Among Young Persons in a Rural Nigerian Community’
, The African Anthropologist8(1):
96–107
.
26.
Izugbara, C. O. (2002a) Indigenous Knowledge, Cultural Beliefs, and
Reproductive Health-Seeking Behaviour Among Local Ngwa Women. Unpublished
doctoral dissertation, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
27.
Izugbara, C. O.
(2002b)
‘Cultural Constraints on Anthropological Research into Rural
Sexual Health Matters’
, Sexual Health Matter3(4):
66–70
.
28.
Izugbara, C. O.
(2002c)
‘Deterrents to Voluntary HIV Testing among University Students in
Uyo, Southeastern Nigeria’
, Sexual Health Matters3(4):
44–47
.
29.
Izugbara, C. O.
(2004)
‘Notions of Sex, Sexuality, and Sexual Relationships among
Adolescent Boys in Rural Southeastern Nigeria’
, Sex Education4(1):
63–79
.
30.
Izugbara, C. O.
(2005)
‘Local Erotic Songs and Chants among Rural Nigerian Adolescent Males’
, Sexuality and Culture9(3):
53–76
.
31.
Izugbara, C. O.
and
Ukwayi, J. K.
(2003)
‘The Clientele of Traditional Birth Homes in Rural Southeastern Nigeria’
, Healthcare for Women International24(3):
177–192
.
32.
Kinoti, S.
,
Gaffikin, L.
,
Benson J.
and
Nicholson, L.
(1995) Monograph on Complications of Unsafe Abortion in
Africa.
Baltimore, MD: Reproductive Health Research
Programme of Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat (CRHCS) for
East, Central and Southern Africa and Johns Hopkins Program for
International Education in Reproductive Health (JHPIEGO) Corporation and IPAS
.
33.
Linde, C.
(1993) Life Stories; the Creation of Coherence.
New York: Oxford University Press
.
34.
Lloyd, C. B.
(1994)
‘Adolescent Fertility in Sub-Saharan African’
, Population and Development Review20(1):
194–205
.
35.
Mead, G. H.
(1967) Mind, Self and Society: From the Standpoint of a
Behavioural Scientist.
Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press
.
36.
Modo, I. V. O.
(1996) Issues In Anthropology.
Uyo: Modern Business Press
.
37.
Moore, S. M.
and
Rosenthal, D. A.
(1992)
‘The Social Context of Adolescent Sexuality: Safe Sex Implications’
, Special Issue, ‘HIV/AIDS and Adolescents: An International
Perspective’, Journal of Adolescence15:
415–435
.
38.
Morris, M.
,
Zavisca, J.
and
Dean, L.
(1995)
‘Social and Sexual Networks: Their Role in the Spread of HIV/AIDS
among Young Gay Men’
, AIDS Education and Prevention7(Supplement):
24–35
.
39.
National Population Commission
(1994) Census Figures for Nigeria.
Lagos: Government Printer
.
40.
Oladepo, O.
and
Brieger, W. R.
(2000)
‘Sexual Attitudes and Behaviour of Male Secondary School Students
in Rural and Urban Areas of Oyo State, Nigeria’
, African Journal of Reproductive Health4(2):
14–22
.
41.
Population Reference Bureau (PRB)
(2001) Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Chartbook on Sexual
Experience and Reproductive Health.
Washington, DC: PRB
.
42.
Ransom, E.
and
Yinger, N.
(2002) Making Motherhood Safe: Overcoming Obstacles in the
Pathway to Care.
Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau (PRB)
.
43.
Rogo, K. O.
(1996)
‘Induced Abortion in Sub-Saharan Africa’
, African Journal of Fertility, Sexuality and Reproductive Health1(1):
17–24
.
44.
Somlai, A. M.
,
Kelly, J. A.
,
Wagstaff, D. A.
and
Whitson, D. P.
(1998)
‘Patterns, Predictors and Situational Contexts of HIV Risk
Behaviours Among Homeless Men and Women’
, Social Work43:
7–20
.
45.
Sternberg, P.
(2000) ‘Challenging Machismo: Promoting Sexual
and Reproductive Health with Nicaraguan Men’, in
C. Sweetman
(ed.) Gender in the 21st Century, pp.
89–99.
Oxford: Oxford University Press
.
46.
Yahaya, M. K.
(2001)
‘Effectiveness of Integrated Multimedia Communication Strategy in
Reproductive Health and Rights Education: Lessons from Bida Emirate, Nigeria’
, paper read at the 11th National Congress of the Nigerian Rural
Sociological Association (NRSA), 17–20
September, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
