Knowledge, attitude, and perception of sexual and reproductive health among adolescents in Abuja secondary schools

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among adolescents remains a major challenge in Nigeria, where limited knowledge, cultural barriers, and restricted access to services hinder effective SRH education and care. This study assessed adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of SRH in secondary schools within the Abuja Municipal Area Council. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 199 adolescents aged 13 to 19, conducted in secondary schools within the Abuja Municipal Area Council, using multistage sampling. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire that measured socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge (19 items), attitudes (13 items), and perceptions (30 items) of sexual and reproductive health. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages), t-tests, and correlation analysis in SPSS version 25.0. Results: The median age of adolescents was 14 years (IQR:13-16 years). About 81.4%(162/199) had good knowledge of SRH, 64% had positive attitudes toward SRH, and 66% had positive perceptions. The main barriers to accessing SRH information were lack of information (n=116, 58.3%), stigma/shame (n=86, 43.2%), and parental disapproval (n=57, 28.6%). Conclusion: The findings in this study support the need for the enactment of policies and interventions that will make sexual and reproductive health information and services readily accessible to the target population.