Implication of Poor Awareness of Sex Education on Teenagers in Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this work is to study the implication of poor sex education on teenagers in Udenu local government area of Enugu state. Study Design: The researcher adopted a descriptive survey research design. Place and duration of study: The study was conducted in five randomly selected secondary schools in Udenu local government area of Enugu state, Nigeria, between July 2024 and February, 2025. Methodology: The sample consisted of 290 students and 10 teachers from randomly selected schools. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The researchers access knowledge/opinion regarding sex education through the questionnaire. Four-point Likert scale rating of strongly disagree (SD), disagree (D), agree (A) and strongly agree (SA) with values of 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively was used for the research. Results: The research shows that there is a mixed knowledge on the teaching of sex education in secondary schools in Udenu local government area of Enugu state. Furthermore, the finding also shows that resistance to implementation of sex education in the curriculum due to societal taboos, religious belief, limited support from parents, leading to reduced acceptance and effectiveness of programs, inconsistent policies and curriculum making unequal access to sex education and insufficient materials or funding, hindering comprehensive education are some of the challenges to adoption and teaching of sex education in schools. teenagers need to be equipped with adequate knowledge of sex education if they are to negotiate sexual relationship safely and responsibly. The finding also showed that early marriage, teenage pregnancy, contacting of sexually transmitted infection are the implications of lack of knowledge of sex education on the teenagers, the effect of which they suffer at a later part of their life. Conclusion: The research suggested that in order to solve this problem of poor awareness of sex education on teenagers, the government, teachers, and parents should ensure that sex education is given to the students, right from their family to school and the society at large.