SEXUAL HEALTH INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIOR AMONG FEMALE ADOLESCENTS IN SELECTED PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL IN OWAN WEST L.G.A EDO STATE
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Abstract
The focus of this study was to examine the information-seeking behavior of female
adolescents in selected Senior Secondary Schools in the Edo State. Six objectives and six research questions were stated to guide the study. The study adopted information pickup theory by Gibson (1974) for the dependent variable (information seeking behaviour) and the theory of health belief by Rosenstock et al., (1950) for the dependent variable (sexual health). A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted as the research design with a population of 2774 female adolescents students in the various selected secondary schools. A purposive sampling technique was employed as the sampling technique and the sample size of 150 female senior secondary pupils was used. Questionnaire was employed as the research instrument, and the questionnaire was face validated by the project supervisor. The results show that adolescents do selective search in order to satisfy an information need; adolescents mostly seek sexual health information from non-authoritative sources; most of the channels used by adolescents are not authenticated; adolescents have high level unmet information needs; information use among adolescent is adequate; and the knowledge exchange and transfer are poor among adolescents. It is hereby recommended that stakeholders and health practitioners should make provisions for more education and enlightenment on seeking information from evidence based authoritative sources. Keywords: Sexual health, information seeking behaviour, adolescents.
adolescents in selected Senior Secondary Schools in the Edo State. Six objectives and six research questions were stated to guide the study. The study adopted information pickup theory by Gibson (1974) for the dependent variable (information seeking behaviour) and the theory of health belief by Rosenstock et al., (1950) for the dependent variable (sexual health). A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted as the research design with a population of 2774 female adolescents students in the various selected secondary schools. A purposive sampling technique was employed as the sampling technique and the sample size of 150 female senior secondary pupils was used. Questionnaire was employed as the research instrument, and the questionnaire was face validated by the project supervisor. The results show that adolescents do selective search in order to satisfy an information need; adolescents mostly seek sexual health information from non-authoritative sources; most of the channels used by adolescents are not authenticated; adolescents have high level unmet information needs; information use among adolescent is adequate; and the knowledge exchange and transfer are poor among adolescents. It is hereby recommended that stakeholders and health practitioners should make provisions for more education and enlightenment on seeking information from evidence based authoritative sources. Keywords: Sexual health, information seeking behaviour, adolescents.
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