Effects of Sexuality Education on Academic Performance of Adolescent Students in Secondary Schools in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State

Abstract

This study examines the effect of sexuality education on academic performance of adolescent students in secondary schools in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, with particular focus on gender, sexuality education awareness, and students’ living arrangements. A descriptive-survey research design was adopted, involving a sample of 240 adolescents selected through stratified random sampling across four secondary schools. Data were collected using a self-developed Sexuality Education Awareness Questionnaire and a 25-item Achievement Test, pilot-tested with reliability values of 0.75 and 0.79. Mean, standard deviations, ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc, were employed for analysis. Findings revealed that gender did not significantly moderate the influence of sexuality education on performance. In contrast, students with higher awareness of sexuality education demonstrated significantly better performance compared to the less aware peers (p < 0.05). Variations were observed across specific content areas of sexuality education; students exposed to topics on sexually transmitted infections and reproductive health performed relatively better, although differences among content areas were not statistically significant. Importantly, living arrangements were found to have a significant influence on academic outcomes. Students living with both parents achieved the highest performance, followed by those living with guardians, single-parent households, and students living alone, with all pairwise differences statistically significant (p < 0.05). It concludes that gender does not affect performance in the context of sexuality education, while awareness and family structure play critical roles in moderating its impact. It recommends that secondary schools and policymakers implement comprehensive sexuality education programs that are accessible to all students.