SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS, CHOICES AND SEXUAL HEALTH RISK AMONG YOUTH IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENT IN METROPOLITAN LAGOS.

Every society develops social norms that serve to channel and direct sexual activities in youth. These norms are dispelled by the socio-economic transformation over the past decades. The study examines relationship between social expectations, choices and sexual health risks among youth in the study area. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used to collect data from the study area. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select respondents for the quantitative data from three informal settlements in Metropolitan Lagos. Social expectation regarding pre-marital sex still in place, but 76% of the youth interviewed have had pre-marital sex. The neighbourhood characteristics was a significant factor associated with the sexual risks identified in the study areas. Some of the sexual health risks identified include forced sexual coercion, gang rape, “sexual tournament” by male adolescents, use of sex toys for stimulations, concurrent partners and multiple partnerships. Economic deprivation, living conditions, partners’ age, parents communication about sexual health, parents educational status, and family size are predisposing factors for likelihood of making choices about pre-marital sex and use of contraceptives. The study recommends that peer education programmes must be linked with youth health services.