CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Adolescence is a time of transformation in many areas of an individual’s life. The first stage

is the early adolescence which covers the period of 11-14years.

The second is middle adolescence from 15 – 18 years and the third is late adolescence from

18 – 21 years. The word Adolescent is a Greek word “Adolescere” which means to grow to maturity

(Nkwocha, 2007), it is the transition period between childhood and Adulthood and is sometimes

referred to as a midway between savagery and civilization. In the midst of these rapid physical,

emotional and social changes, youths begin to question adult standards and the need for guidance. It

is also a time for individual to make important decision about their commitment to academics, family

and perhaps sexual behaviors. For many youths adolescence marks the onset of sexual activities and

experimentation. Although, this a normal transition, sexual activity during adolescence can serve as

a risk factor for an array of problematic behaviour. (Omotere, 2010).

Most obviously, it can have immediate health consequences such as sexually transmitted

diseases and pregnancy. Research has also noted a linkage between risky sexual behaviours and other

deleterious outcome such as juvenile delinquency and sexual victimization. In Cameroon variables

like peer influence, family history, parental education and lack of parental care affect sexual

behaviours of adolescent. It’s well documented that peers exert influence on adolescent sexual

behaviour. The emerging sexuality that accompanies adolescence poses fundamental challenges for

young people. These include adjustment to the altered appearance and function of a sexually maturing

body, learning to deal with sexual desires, confronting sexual attitude and values in the face of

academic challenges, experimenting with sexual behaviour and integrating these feeling, attitude and

experiences into self-development.

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 As Adolescent matures, social development becomes strong. There is development of team

spirit and the adolescent may begin to show interest in leadership as well as willingness to follow a

leader. He /She begins to show interest in laws and customs and social affairs. At the end of this

period the sex organs become well developed, boys and girls begin to take interest in each other than

before. This period marks the full development of intelligence as seen in the guest for knowledge in

various ways.

There are a number of reasons why early initiation of sexual activity might lead directly to

lower levels of academic achievements. Evidence suggests that the typical teenager spends a bulk of

time thinking about or in the company of the opposite sex (Richards et al.1998) and he/she is

subjected to emotional turmoil, possibly subtracting time from academic pursuits (Rector and

Johnson 2005). Moreover, sexual intercourse at young age can distract adolescents to school

achievements through unintended health consequences of becoming sexually active, such as the

higher risk of unplanned pregnancies, abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases (Rector et al. 2003).

Other risk behaviors associated with early sexual intercourse are substance use and greater affiliation

with deviant peers, which could lead to develop minor deviance (Bingham and Crockett 1996;

Reesetal.2001). Research on adolescent sexual activity found that teenagers involved in romantic

relationships were more likely to experience depression than those who did not become romantically

involved. However, some studies evidenced sex differences in depression during adolescence since

females experienced a larger increase in depression—and a greater decline in happiness—than males

in response to romantic involvement (Joynerand Udry 2000). Hallfors et al. (2005) found that

adolescence females who experienced

1.2 Research Problem

In Cameroon the negativities among adolescent sexual behaviour has become a prominent

problem that needs urgent attention, by parents teachers, psychologists, guardian counselors, leaders

and the society at large. Trakaa 2003, lamented that many youth of today associate themselves with

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truancy, illicit sex, drug abuse, night parties and clubs, prostitution as contrary to the teaching of their

parent, teachers and the religions institutions.

Expressing sexual feeling and enjoying physical contact with others is one of the key

developmental issues of adolescence. The developmental task carries with it a great deal of risks.

The implication of this is that there is tendency for increase in the rate of adolescent rape and

pregnancy and also contacting infections and HIV/AIDS. Sexual behaviour among adolescences also

portends a challenge to academic performance of adolescents and this constitutes the need for this

study. That is a correlation between sexual behaviour and its effects on academic performance of

adolescents.

1.3 Rational of the Study

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the investigate sexual behaviour and its effect on

academic performance of adolescents in the Buea Municipality. Determining the association of

sex education with sexual behavior among adolescents has the potential to increase the knowledge

and understanding of this phenomenon. Given the disproportionately high adolescent fertility rate

in Cameroon, it is essential to examine give thought to the importance and gravity of the problem.

1.4 Research Objectives

Main Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate sexual behaviour and its effect on academic

performance of adolescents in the Buea Municipality.

Specific Objective

1. To identify the physical and biological characteristics (changes) of the adolescents.

2. To identify the nature of adolescent sexual behaviour

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3. To ascertain effect of sexual behaviour on academic performance.

1.5 Research Questions

1. What are the physical and biological characteristics of adolescents?

2. What are the nature of adolescents sexual behaviour?

3. What are the effects of sexual behaviour on the academic performance of the adolescents?

1.6 Significance of the Study

There are both practical and theoretical reasons for conducting this study. From practical

perspective, understanding the factors that place adolescents at risk for early initiation of sexual

activities and the ability to predict and understand motivational influence on behaviour, provide

information that is valuable in the development of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases

prevention programmes.

The study will serve as a reference material for further studies to future researches to establish

findings from the study which will be useful to health care givers as a guide for effective health

education and counselling and guidance.

Information gained from this study will go a long way in helping to complete the

understanding of adolescent’s sexual risks taking.

Therefore, the research will essentially guide adolescents of all ages on the right path to thread

during their most critical stages of development in order to perform well academically.

1.7 Delimitation (Scope) of the Study

This study was focused on the sexual behaviour among senior secondary school students of

Summerset Bilingual College.

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Definition of terms

Sexual: Relating to, or associated with sex or sexes.

Behavior: A response of an individual or group to an action, environment, person or stimulus.

Academic performance: Is the extent to which a student has achieved his /her educational goals.

Adolescents: A young person developing from childhood to adulthood.

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

This chapter presents the work of other scholars and relevant literature on related work under

conceptual framework, empirical framework and theoretical framework.

Conceptual Framework

Psychology of Adolescence

The human development from conception to adulthood has been divided into various stages.

Each stage has its own peculiar characteristics which differentiates it from others. Among these

stages, the adolescence is the most controversial because of the dramatic changes in physical structure

and mental ability. Adolescence period is the stage of development between childhood and

adulthood. It is a transitional period from childhood to adulthood that is accomplished with various

physical as mental changes. This stage is also referred to as teenage age. According to Akinboye

(2000), it is an overlapping period which the child experiences changes not only physically and

mentally, but also socially and emotionally.

The adolescence stage may be a period of crises for many school children if they are not

properly directed and guided in their learning activities.

According to Nkwocha (2007), most development traits attain their peak growth during this

period. At this period adolescents are expected to accomplish a lot of tasks. The drastic changes and

environmental factors they experience lead them to conflict.

The period is however categorized into two stages by many psychologists: They are referred to as

early adolescents and late adolescents.

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 Physical and Biological Characteristics

According to Akinboye, Fagbumu, Okafor and Ezezebor (2009), some of the physical

characteristics of adolescents include:

a) Increase in height, weight and strength

b) Enlargement of the sex organs, penis, testis clitoris etc, the growth of breast and widening of

hips in girls

c) The voice becomes deeper in boys

d) Growth of pubic hairs and armpit hair appear

e) Girls start to menstruate

f) General changes in proportion of various body parts

g) System of the body such as respiratory and circulatory systems acquire their full growth. The

brain becomes fully developed.

Biological Changes

Just as the external feature changes so do the internal biological features such as body

biochemistry and physiological composition changes. There is high reduction of the lymphoid tissue

and subcutaneous fat during adolescence. The rate of growth of the nervous system and brain tissue

reduces at adolescence. The condensing growth of the brain leads to gradual maturation of its

functions. The rate of reaction and reasoning deepens. The larynx enlarges and voice of adolescent

changes.

Production of gonadotrophic hormone of the anterior pituitary gland increases. The position

of the gland in the brain influences the distribution of the hormone to the body. This stimulates the

rapid increase in physiological and physical changes at adolescence period. The gonadotrophic

hormone stimulate the activity of the gonad or sex glands: This in turn leads to increase in production

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and maturation of sperm in males and ova in females. Girls begin to menstruate and boys experience

nocturnal emission. The sex hormone in female is called estrogen and testosterone in males. They

stimulate growth of bones and muscles which lead to growth spurt.

Nature of adolescents sexual bahaviour:

Behaviour can be either adaptive or maladaptive it is adaptive when it enhances the fulfilment

or actualization of the potentials of the individual, while maladaptive aspect of it is when it is

disruptive and leads to the destruction of the individual’s potentials thereby causing problems for the

individual, the family and society at large. Living organism, particular animals including human

beings respond to, or interact with persons and things in their environment. They therefore act on

their environment in different ways and at different occasions. Some activities performed by

organisms (behaviour) are internal and cannot be directly observed. Such are called covert behaviour.

Typical examples of covert behaviour include feelings, thinking, perception and attitudes on the other

hand, some activities of organisms are external and can be directly observed, hence called overt

bahaviour examples include, talking, reading, jumping etc.

Behaviour can also be seen as any human process taking place in the human body which may

have either psychological, physiological or biological basis and can be objectively measured with

any suitable equipment or tool. Example sleeping, snoring, perspiration, hunger, muscle tension

stress etc.

According to Nwankwo (2005) human behaviour can basically be seen to come under two

groups: Voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary Bevahiour

Are those we deliberately and intentionally engage in and thus are under our control.

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Involuntary Behaviour

Are those we don’t have control over them. They occur based on environmental demand

outside our own will. The learned undesirable behavior can be strengthen or maintained all through

the process of bahaviour modification.

However, as a result of exposure and curiosity, adolescents are interested in the opposite sex

interacting more with peers. If they are not properly guided, could have early sexual activity. The

need for affection and strong emotions relationship is an important motivation for initiating sexual

activity among adolescents.

Abraham and Kumar (2001), noted that sexual behaviour among unmarried adolescents is on

the rise, especially in urban areas when as estimated 20 – 25% of unmarried young females have

experienced premarital sex.

Adolescents behavioural problems has become a boring issue in our society today as people

keep wondering about the general downward trend of morality.

As noted by Bowen, (2001) and Viljoen, (2005), adolescents with sexual behavioural problem have

weak connection to school, increased likelihood of dropping out of school and more academic

difficulties. Through the puberty changes in adolescent boys and adolescent girls have reverse effect

on their personality and emotions they still experience the same problems though in different degree.

Woruka (2010). Say that maturing boys experience maladaptive behaviour due to deviant

status and ejection by their social environment.

Chikwe and Ekechukwu (2009) also noted that the young adolescent most often keep multiple

sexual partners, they regard the number of opposite sex friend they have as a mark of achievement

and a sign of conquest. This is especially true of boys.

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Adolescents learn from adult that sex should not be an open affair, that explains why sexual behaviour

of adolescent is shrouded in secrecy:

Adolescents feel reluctant or embarrassed to approach their parent on sex topic as parents also

feel very reluctant and inadequate to communicate on such issues with their children (Grunerit 2007).

Chikwe and Ekechukwu (2009) noted that the beginning of adolescents marks the onset of

loosing ties or attachment between adolescents and their parents. The gap created by the weakening

parent – adolescent relationship is replaced by increased interaction or relationship with the peer

group.

Ayonode (2004), pointed out that the attachment of most parents to traditional beliefs and

values hinder them from discussion that would enable their children make sexual exploits and

experimentations. In the past, adolescents shunned anything about sex as they rather adhere strictly

to social codes and norms. Nowadays, the issue is different.

According to Blair and Sampson (2006) secondary school students and even primary school

pupil engage deeply into sex practices in secret corners of the school field, laboratories, staff quarters,

boy’s quarters and dormitories. Some students express the attitude that nothing is wrong with casual

or illicit sex. Many even believe that AIDS does not exist, such altitude is poor and is capable of

endangering the adolescents to AIDs virus.

Ogbonna (2003), also discovered that adolescent orientation and related sources of sex

information are among the factors responsible for the behaviour towards sex.

We need to believe that through watching of blue films, pornographic magazine, imitation of peers

and by observing adult having sex especially in a situation where everybody sleep in one room, the

adolescent learns the act.

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 Adolescents are among the most sexually active segment of the national population. They

have great pressure to have sex and they really engage in sexual activities that are well known to

involve risk to health. At school they engage in indiscriminate sex partners, homosexualism,

lesbianism and incest. (Ifelumine and Okorie, 2003), wearing of skimpy clothes even to school and

having sex without condom. All these makes them vulnerable to infection with STI (Sexually

Transmitted Infection) including HIV/AIDS.

Effects of Sexual behaviors on Academic performance of adolescents.

In society today, academic performance plays an essential role in many people’s live. Sexual

activity is a part of many people’s live. Once, sexual activity was considered as taboo but today, it

has become social part of life among adolescents. It is thought that sexual activity may have some

relationship with academic performance. In recent times, adolescents in the bid to explore their

sexually, involve in heterosexual qualification of their psychological or intrinsic sexual instinct or

urge. But they often loose sight of or ignore the grave consequences associated with adolescent

sexuality.

According to Adams and Gilluota cited in Akano (2002). They noted that the problems

associated with adolescents a sexual behaviour is not limited to renewal diseases, enjoyment of sex,

pregnancy, guilt about sex, birth control pills, fear of sex, sex offences and prostitutions. Other

problems include: reproductive tract infections and induced abortions in girls.

In the view of Eriaga (2002) the problems associate with adolescent’s sexual behaviour are dropping

out of school, running away from home, abusing alcohol and other drugs, and getting into trouble

with the law. Adolescent inability to handle the responsibility of sexual behaviour according to him

often results in such problems as unplanned and premature pregnancy.

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 The contraction of venereal disease and other psychological problems such as emotional

illness, depression, anxiety, schizophrenic. The view was supported by Olafinka (2002) who noted

that there is also the possibility of contracting diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis. He further

opined that the anxiety to get rid of the pregnancy through abortion, expulsion from school and moral

decadence are some of ills that may accompany adolescent sexually. In extreme cases, death

resulting from abortions and acute depression in the event of suicide could occur.

(Nwankwo 2003), observed that adolescent experience certain sexual problem as a result of
experimenting sexual behaviour. To him some of such problems include: Incest, homosexuality
(Sodony and lesbianism), rape, pedophilia, prostitution, promiscuity and other psychological
problem.
Furthermore, research state that the early initiation of sexual intercourse is related to poor
academic performance and that interpretation of sexual language vary from person to person (Bogart
2000).

Theoretical Frame Work

The theoretical frame work guiding this review had its origins in the problem behaviour theory.

Problem Behaviour Theory

Problem behaviour theory (PBT) by the definition of Jessor (1987) is any behaviour that

deviates from both social and legal norms or behaviour that is socially disapproved from those of

authority and tends to elicit some form of social control response whether mild reproof, social

rejection or incarceration. As further stated by Jessor (1987), PBT was initially developed to use

with the study of alcohol abuse in minority communities by acting as an psychosocial model that

attempts to explain behavioural outcomes such as substance abuse, premarital sex etc. by focusing

on three systems of psychosocial influence; Personality system all social cognitions, personal

values, expectations, beliefs and values, perceived environmental system (family and peer

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expectations and the behaviour system problem and conventional behaviour structures and that

work in opposition to each other (Zamboango etal, 2004).

According to (Donavan etal, 1991), Each of the three systems of psycho-social influence

that are comprised in the problem behaviour theory (PBT) (Personality, perceived environment

and behaviour). Utilized different variables that either influence the problem (such as illicit sex)

to occur or decrease the like hood of a behaviour to take place. There are two forms of behaviours:

Conventional and unconventional.

Donovan et al (1991) defined conventional behaviours us actions such as church

attendance, involvement in exists curricular activity, other socially approved behaviours, while

unconventional behaviors are defined as anything that deviates negatively from social norms such

as underage drinking substance abuse, adolescent sexuality and other risk behaviours. Through

analyzing conventional – unconventional behaviours in each of the three psychosocial systems in

the individual, researchers can make predictions on future behaviours.

The problems behaviour theorists concluded that eight factors appear to account for most

of the variance in any given deliberate behaviour. Fishbein etal (2001) According to these

scholars, a strong intention (or a commitment to performing a behaviour), the absence of

environmental constraints (hindering practice), necessary skills, a positive attitude toward

performing the behavior, social normative pressure to act, consistency between the behaviour and

the person’s self-image or personal standards, positive emotional reactions to the behaviour, and

confidence in performing the behaviour under different circumstances, determine whether a given

individual will engage in a specific health-related action.Fishbein etal (2001) Fishbein (2000),

later conceptualized how these elements were inter-related and termed the frame work as

integrative model”.

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 Adolescent sexuality is an unconventional behaviour a socially unacceptable deviant

dehaviour with underlying consequences. Such as fear of being caught, fear of pregnancy, fear of

abandonment, fear of contracting same STIs etc. All these consequences have emotional/social

implications, which in turn affects or hampers their academic performances.

Empirical Review

Sexual behaviour is any activity that produces arousal and increases the chances of orgasm

(NGTF, 1996). Such sexual acts are exhibited by persons e.g. heterosexual. A heterosexual person

is a person who is sexually attracted to or who engages in sexual with the other gender.

A study of sexual behaviour of adolescent in Nigeria’s urban centres, where there has been

rapid and economic changes in recent years, is both important and necessary in the sense that

sexual behaviour of adolescents in Nigeria has become a problem not only because of the health

implications but also due to social and economic repercussions of adolescent sexuality. About one

person out of five in Nigeria is currently between ages 10-19 (International Family Planning

Perspective). From 2000-2010, the number of young people age 10 to 19 increase about 42%,

from 18.5 million to a little over 26 million in the next 10 years, the number witnessed a rapid

increase to 39.2 million.

Adolescent is largely established when the growing child reaches puberty and expresses

certain secondary sexual characteristics. This is probably why most all manifested behavioural,

social, peer and developmental problems of the adolescents may be intimately or remotely

associated with his or her attempt to adjust to the various demands of puberty and sex maturation.

(National Guideline Taskforce 1996).

Akinboye (2007) explain that the changes brought by puberty and significant changes in

the body structures and composition may be largely responsible for the sometimes observed

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increased urge for heterosexual activities in adolescents. The child may also want be like his peers

who are seen having friends of the opposite sex. Hence social forces may be operating to

compound the problems of the adolescents. The important issues however is that the adolescents

desire an active engagement in heterosexual activities which often get him involved in lots of

problems. This can affect his achievement in school, ability to maintain a home, and increase

vulnerability to veneral diseases with a consequent destruction of reproductive organs and create

conflicts over the use of contraceptives to abort unplanned pregnancy, alienation from family

members and so on. For example, studies have indicated that adolescents are not generally

concerned about pregnancy and its consequences when they explore heterosexual affairs, the main

concern are the pleasures, amorous satisfaction and youthful exuberance accompanying sexual

behaviour which the young seen to be having during this period. (Oladapo, et al).

Sexual behaviour expresses ones sexuality in ways congruent with and in accordance to

the law of the land. It also discriminate between life enhancing sexual behaviour while respecting

the rights of others. Sexual behaviour also include search for new information to enhance one

sexuality and engage in sexual relations that are characterized by honesty, equity and responsibility

(NGTF 1996). The world’s youth (2000) states that cultural standard about what constitute sexual

behaviour for adolescent boys and girls complicated the issues of adolescents reproductive health.

In some societies adolescents are encouraged or pressured to take part in risky sexual behaviour

such as having multiple sexual partners or having their first sexual experience with a sex worker,

yet such services do not often protect adolescents with the means to protect themselves from

infections and unplanned pregnancies. Sexuality education among others should be enforced in

schools to help the adolescent sexuality. They can also support other positive behaviours and

attitude such as staying in school, supporting adolescent girls and their partners in their

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reproductive health needs and decisions, such programmes efforts can also assist the young people

to avoid violence, drug and alcohol abuse etc. (Ariba 2010)

A cross sectional survey of secondary school student on adolescents sexual behaviour in

plateau State show that 1.29 to 1.92 had low connectedness with school as a result of risky sexual

behaviour.

Summary of Literature

Adolescence is the transitional period between, childhood and adulthood, and is sometimes

referred to as midway between savagery and civilization. Most development traits attain their peak

growth during this period which falls between the ages of 11 to 21 years. Boys usually start two years

after the girls at the age of 13 years.

Sexual behaviour of adolescence is shrouded in secrecy as adolescence feel reluctant or

embarrassed to approach their parents on sex topic, parents also feel reluctant and inadequate to

communicate on such issues with their children. Adolescents have been noted to engage deeply in

sex practices in secret corners of the school while some express the attitude that there is nothing

wrong with casual or illicit sex. Many even believe that AIDS does not exist. Adolescents orientation

and related sources of sex information is among the factors responsible for their behaviour towards

sex. Influence of peer groups, watching of films, pornographic magazines, imitation of parents also

influence their sex behaviour.

Sexual behaviour have negative impact on the academic performance of adolescents and it

could lead to truancy, school dropout, unplanned pregnancy, smoking, drug abuse, examination

malpractice etc.

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