Michael ON Kunnujia, Samual Adejoha, Uwemedimo Esietb & Adenike Esietb
a Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, Akoka–Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
b Action Health Incorporated (AHI), Lagos, Nigeria
Published online: 19 Dec 2013.
Introduction
In 2010, the world population of adolescents (ages 10–19
years) stood at 1.23 billion, described as the largest number
ever in the history of mankind. Over 36 million of these
people are from Nigeria. The United Nations Department of
Economic and Social Affairs/Population Division estimated
that people in this age bracket will continue to increase
(UN DESA 2009). Studies suggest that in many parts of the
world, the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents
are either poorly understood or not fully appreciated
and that evidence is growing that this neglect can seriously
impede the health of these young people (WHO 2006). The
reproductive health of adolescents has become a source of
concern because of the trend towards a rise in the age at
marriage which increases the period of adolescence before
marriage, and the declining age at menarche which leads
to an earlier onset of adolescence, sexual maturity and
the ability to reproduce. Also, sexual intercourse among
adolescents is often unprotected and can lead to unwanted
pregnancy and abortion, while sexually active adolescents
are also increasingly at risk of contracting and transmitting
sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV
(Gubhaju 2002).
Programmes aimed at equipping young people with
reproductive health knowledge and stimulating behaviour
change are often designed to reach the most people. Yet,
the fora for dissemination of information and overall project
design may exclude large minorities.