Abstract:
The growing rate of sexual risk-taking
among young people contributes significantly
to the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in
Nigeria. This study, explores the influence of
socio-demographic, HIV/AIDS awareness and
female empowerment on the sexual risk
behaviors of unmarried Nigerian women aged
15-24. The data presented in this paper was
drawn from the 2003 Nigeria National
Demographic and Health Survey. The sample
consisted of unmarried women aged 15-24 in
the dataset. Data was collected through a
structured and interviewer administered questionnaire.
Multivariate logistic regression
models were used to identify the most important
predictors of sexual risk behaviors. Sexual
risk-taking is relatively high among unmarried
young women. Among those who are sexually
active, 80% indicated that they did not use a
condom during their first sexual encounter.
Regression analysis revealed that younger age,
lower HIV/AIDS prevention and transmission
knowledge, lower knowledge of where to
obtain condoms, lower material standard of living
and greater intimate partner violence were
significantly associated with sexual risk-taking
in this population. Findings revealed that
the sexual behavior of unmarried Nigerian
women aged 15-24 is influenced by a complex
matrix of factors. Identifying specific processes
and contexts that promote the concentration
of risk among sub-sections of young
unmarried women aged 15-24 years in Nigeria
should be a research and intervention priority
