Evaluating knowledge gains from structured sexual and reproductive health education among in-school adolescents in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract Background Lack of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge among adolescents can lead to risky sexual behaviors and poor SRH outcomes. This study aimed to assess the difference in SRH knowledge between adolescents in schools that received SRH interventions and those in non-interventi...

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Main Authors: Chibuike Agu, Chinyere Ojiugo Mbachu, Ifunanya Clara Agu, Godstime Eigbiremolen, Ugenyi Iloabachie, Ozioma Nwankpa, Obinna Onwujekwe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-02-01
Series:Discover Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00412-0
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author Chibuike Agu
Chinyere Ojiugo Mbachu
Ifunanya Clara Agu
Godstime Eigbiremolen
Ugenyi Iloabachie
Ozioma Nwankpa
Obinna Onwujekwe
author_facet Chibuike Agu
Chinyere Ojiugo Mbachu
Ifunanya Clara Agu
Godstime Eigbiremolen
Ugenyi Iloabachie
Ozioma Nwankpa
Obinna Onwujekwe
author_sort Chibuike Agu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Lack of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge among adolescents can lead to risky sexual behaviors and poor SRH outcomes. This study aimed to assess the difference in SRH knowledge between adolescents in schools that received SRH interventions and those in non-intervention schools in Ebonyi State, Southeast, Nigeria. Methods This was an intervention study that employed an ex-post outcome design. Data were collected from 503 in-school adolescent boys and girls aged 13–18 who were randomly selected from the eligible schools. The data were collected through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire Participants were randomly selected for technique. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results A significantly higher proportion of respondents who participated in the intervention (94.16%) demonstrated good knowledge of SRH compared to those who did not participate (85.77%), with a p-value of 0.002. Senior secondary school students (92.31%) exhibited better SRH knowledge than junior secondary school students (86.39%) (p = 0.031). Female adolescents were 3.2 times less likely to have good SRH knowledge compared to male adolescents. Conclusions Efforts to adopt and scale up SRH interventions should prioritize equal and full participation across all adolescent groups, especially girls, junior students, working adolescents, and urban residents.
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spelling doaj-art-a29cb213b29442ebbc69cd5bd915e3d12025-02-09T12:12:45ZengSpringerDiscover Public Health3005-07742025-02-0122111110.1186/s12982-025-00412-0Evaluating knowledge gains from structured sexual and reproductive health education among in-school adolescents in Southeast NigeriaChibuike Agu0Chinyere Ojiugo Mbachu1Ifunanya Clara Agu2Godstime Eigbiremolen3Ugenyi Iloabachie4Ozioma Nwankpa5Obinna Onwujekwe6Health Policy Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu CampusHealth Policy Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu CampusHealth Policy Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu CampusHealth Policy Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu CampusHealth Policy Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu CampusHealth Policy Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu CampusHealth Policy Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu CampusAbstract Background Lack of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge among adolescents can lead to risky sexual behaviors and poor SRH outcomes. This study aimed to assess the difference in SRH knowledge between adolescents in schools that received SRH interventions and those in non-intervention schools in Ebonyi State, Southeast, Nigeria. Methods This was an intervention study that employed an ex-post outcome design. Data were collected from 503 in-school adolescent boys and girls aged 13–18 who were randomly selected from the eligible schools. The data were collected through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire Participants were randomly selected for technique. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results A significantly higher proportion of respondents who participated in the intervention (94.16%) demonstrated good knowledge of SRH compared to those who did not participate (85.77%), with a p-value of 0.002. Senior secondary school students (92.31%) exhibited better SRH knowledge than junior secondary school students (86.39%) (p = 0.031). Female adolescents were 3.2 times less likely to have good SRH knowledge compared to male adolescents. Conclusions Efforts to adopt and scale up SRH interventions should prioritize equal and full participation across all adolescent groups, especially girls, junior students, working adolescents, and urban residents.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00412-0School health interventionReproductive healthAdolescentKnowledgeNigeria
spellingShingle Chibuike Agu
Chinyere Ojiugo Mbachu
Ifunanya Clara Agu
Godstime Eigbiremolen
Ugenyi Iloabachie
Ozioma Nwankpa
Obinna Onwujekwe
Evaluating knowledge gains from structured sexual and reproductive health education among in-school adolescents in Southeast Nigeria
Discover Public Health
School health intervention
Reproductive health
Adolescent
Knowledge
Nigeria
title Evaluating knowledge gains from structured sexual and reproductive health education among in-school adolescents in Southeast Nigeria
title_full Evaluating knowledge gains from structured sexual and reproductive health education among in-school adolescents in Southeast Nigeria
title_fullStr Evaluating knowledge gains from structured sexual and reproductive health education among in-school adolescents in Southeast Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating knowledge gains from structured sexual and reproductive health education among in-school adolescents in Southeast Nigeria
title_short Evaluating knowledge gains from structured sexual and reproductive health education among in-school adolescents in Southeast Nigeria
title_sort evaluating knowledge gains from structured sexual and reproductive health education among in school adolescents in southeast nigeria
topic School health intervention
Reproductive health
Adolescent
Knowledge
Nigeria
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00412-0
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