Role of Attitude and Beliefs about STIs/Aids in Sexual Behaviour of Men in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria

This study examines the role of attitude and beliefs about STis/ AIDS in the sexual behaviour of
men in Osogbo, Osun State. The study arose from t}:le recognition that there is erosion of various
customs which acted to restrict undesirable sexual relationship, especially this era of a
deadly disease called HIV/ AIDS. And its transmission is predominantly through heterosexual
relations made possible by continuous and consistent practices of sexual network espècially among
men. :
The study which is mainly based on a primary source of data as well as in-depth interview had among
others the following objectives, namely, to examine the extent to which the attitudes and beliefs
about STls/ AIDS can influence the men sexual behaviour; to.investigate the socioeconomic and
demographic characteristics tl1at faveur the risk of contacting STls/ AIDS; and to examine the
extent of use of condom in the prevention of
STls/AIDS.
A total of 500. randomly selected men were interviewed, while about 10 men were engaged in in-depth
interview. Their responses were ·subsequently analysed using statistical techniques such as
frequency, cross-tabulation and logistic regression after making the dependent variables suitable
for such analysis by dichotomising the dependent variables.
It was revealed from the finding that the age at which sexual relationship starts become too low
with mean age of 15.26 years. Also, it was found that sexual network is still rampant among the
respondents, even though vast majority had knowledge or
STis/ AIDS and worrisome of its existence.