Nigeria has one of the highest populations of young people within the ages of 10 and 24 in the world. According to population record, about 70 percent of this country’s population is young people. In other word, the country is blessed with a future of productive and energetic Nigerians if priorities are well placed. However with this brighter future come some downsides. That Nigeria has a growing population of young Nigerians also means the country has a population of younger generation that is sexually active and eager to explore.
According to Action Health International, the average age at first intercourse for girls is 16 years and a little higher for boys. According to the organisation, “The Nigerian society restricts premarital sex for young women, while it is tolerated and sometimes applauded for young men.” According to a survey carried out by Action Health International, more than 5500 urban youth aged 12-24 years, 41 percent had experienced sexual intercourse. Of these, 82 percent of female and 72 percent of males had had intercourse by the age of 19. The survey also revealed that young men have also been found to report having multiple sexual partners and having intercourse with casual partners while in contrast young women usually report they had their first encounter with acquaintances or steady boyfriends.
The study also revealed that out of every 5 secondary school girls interviewed, admitted to at least one previous pregnancy. Over 80% of patients present at Nigerian hospitals with abortion related complications are adolescent girls. In fact, Action Health concluded that unsafe induced abortion is school girls’ problem in Nigeria.
Although the Nigeria National HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) HIV/AIDS indicated in 2019 that prevalence in Nigeria has dropped to 1.4 percent from the previous 2.8 percent among adults aged between 15-49 years, young women between the ages of 20-24 years are three times more likely to be living with HIV as young men in the same group.
By all understanding, HIV/AIDS transmission in Nigeria may be dropping, yet increase sexual activity among young Nigerians is potent enough to change the trend. This, IMPACT NEWS sees as a national health crisis looming in the future if urgent steps are not taken. We cannot continue to pretend that we have attained the Eldorado due to this drop in transmission rate of HIV. Socially, government, religious leaders, education authorities must stand to promote decent sexual and reproductive health education for young Nigerians.
We therefore recommend that there should be a policy focused on safeguarding the reproductive health of young Nigerians. In the same vein, focus should be on investing in the establishment of Youth Friendly Health Centres that would focus on reproductive health issues of young Nigerians. Establishment of such health centres across the state would no doubt mean more fund for the health sector.
We are ardent advocate of increase in the funding for the health sector in the country. It is disheartening that after hosting the Abuja Declaration in 2001 and penned its commitment along with other African countries to increase funding for health sector; we have as a country only pays lip service to the commitment. The Federal; Government should hence forth show commitment to the Declaration. Health of the younger generation determines the future of this great nation; we must therefore do all that is humanly necessary to guarantee that their health, which includes reproductive and sexual health is protected.
