Preference for and access to media resources as predictors of in-school adolescents knowledge of sexual and reproductive health issues in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the extent to which preference for and access to media resources predicts knowledge of in-school adolescents to sexual and reproductive health issues in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. A population of 526 in-school adolescents participates in the study while questionnaire was used as the main instrument of data collection. Findings from the study revealed that in-school adolescents in the study area prefer print-based information resources above other forms of media resources such as electronic resources. However, a low level of preference was established among the students despite their preference for print based media resources. The school library was established as the major place of accessing sexual and reproductive health information by the students while a low degree of accessibility to media resources on sexual and reproductive health among in-school adolescents in was also established. Also, the study revealed that in-school adolescents in the study area possess the right knowledge about sexual and reproductive health issues. Preference for and access to media resources were found to predict knowledge of in-school adolescents about sexual and reproductive health issues to the level of 9.9% and 38.8% degrees respectively. Recommendations were made based on the findings from the study.

Keywords: media resources, sexual health information, reproductive health information, adolescents, Lagos, students