CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of sexual activities and the abuse of contraception by youths in Nigeria has lately been recognized as an issue in terms of public health and sociology. Adolescence and youth mark key stages in life where there are many changes physically, socially, and psychologically, which may affect the sexuality of these groups. In Nigeria, there is a large number of youths aged 10-24 years. Research conducted in 2025 showed that a considerable proportion of youths in Nigeria engage in sexual activities, engaging in sex at an early age, hence exposing themselves to risks regarding their sexual and reproductive lives like pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (Akinbajo et al., 2025).If anything, statistics point to the fact that sex is one of the major activities Nigerian youth engage in. Sexual activity among Nigerian youths seems to be pervasive one of the 2025 report on Nigerian undergraduates showed that 44.5% of those surveyed had had sexual intercourse, and some of those that had most frequently talked about having multiple partners. Other researchers have reported even higher levels with more than 70% of female students confessing to having had sex before (Duru et al. 2025). It could be said that these results reflect the increasing acceptance of sex among young people by which not only peer influence, television and radio exposure, the urban way of life and the change in cultural values are the determining factors. However, premarital sex at an early age without sufficient knowledge and use of protection can lead to adverse reproductive health consequences for the young people.While a significant proportion of Nigerian youths have adequate knowledge about contraceptive methods, utilization is still relatively low and sporadic. Studies reveal that even though more than half of the students have knowledge of contraceptives, fewer than 40% of those who engage in sexual activities use them consistently. The condom is the most frequently employed type of contraceptive, but their incorrect usage and failure to use them regularly as well as using ineffective traditional practices for contraception lead to their failure and unwanted pregnancies.Contraceptive abuse among youths entails the misuse of contraceptives or the conscious/unconscious efforts made by an individual to decrease their effectiveness; this is through misusing of condom, dependence on ineffective contraception, or abandoning because of myths and misconception. The Nigerian socio-cultural and religious attitudes tend to stigmatize the issues of sexuality thus hampering effective transmission of knowledge. Also, substance abuse is a contributing factor to indulgence in dangerous sexual acts, resulting in misuse of contraceptives and unsafe sexual encounters.

Sexual abuse coupled with misuse of contraceptive has widespread effects, including increased risks of unintended pregnancies, illegal abortion, and infection of sexually transmitted infections, which includes HIV/AIDS. Sexual coercion and sexual abuse remain rampant among youths, and there is a high prevalence of sexual violation cases among youths; this means that some percentage of youth experiences sexual abuse before reaching adulthood.Adolescents in nigeria use contraception less than expected, despite widespread sexual activity. Studies across Africa show that when schools offer clear sex education, teens are more likely to use birth control and adopt safer habits (Bokossa et al. 2025), and programs that involve teachers, local leaders, and doctors can shift norms on reproduction and reduce risky behaviors. For better or worse, young people still face limited access to care even when they're aware of options.

Sexual behavior among Nigerian youth is common, but usage of contraceptives stays low. That mismatch leads to unplanned pregnancies and long-term health consequences. Realistically, changing attitudes take time - no single fix will work overnight. Community trust matters just as much as clinic availability in shaping actual decisions.