0175 Citation: Olorunsola AM, Muyibi SA, Irabor AE, Adetunji AA, Ismail WO, et al. (2021) Pattern and predictors of sexual behaviour among adolescents in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria. Arch Community Med Public Health 7(2): 175-181. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17352/2455-5479.000158 https://dx.doi.org/10.17352/acmph DOI: 2455-5479 ISSN: MEDICAL GROUP Abstract Background: Adolescents are usually strong and known for vitality but reproductive and sexual issues constitute challenges to their health and well- being. Sexual choices are controlled by interaction of factors surrounding the adolescents’ existence. Aim: The study investigated the pattern and factors affecting sexual behaviour among adolescents in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted among sexually active adolescents at two Family Medicine Practice Clinics after obtaining ethical approval. Data was collected on sexual behaviour, socio demographic and family characteristics using interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was analysed with SPSS version 18 and test of association was done using chi-square and multiple logistic regression at 5% level of significance. Results: The mean age of sexual debut was 18.82 + 2.804 years, with age of onset being a year earlier among male respondents compared to females. Higher proportion of males (50.9%) had intercourse before age 16 and were involved in sex with multiple partners (71.2%). Females accounted more for inconsistent condom use (67.7%) and transactional sex (73.3%). Predictors of unsafe sexual behaviour were non- tertiary education (OR= 2.05, Confidence Interval: 1.096-3.848), lower social class OR: 2.721, Confidence Interval: 1.422-5.308 and conflict- oriented family types (OR= 1.894 Confidence Interval: 1.036-3.462). Conclusion: The findings showed different pattern of sexual behaviour among adolescents. Factors that predicted unsafe sexual practice were low education, poverty and family dysfunction. Ameliorating these factors will reduce risky sex pattern and related morbidities among adolescents’ population. Research Article Pattern and predictors of sexual behaviour among adolescents in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria Olorunsola AM 1 *, Muyibi SA 1 , Irabor AE 1 , Adetunji AA 1 , Ismail WO 2 and Ogunniyan T 3 1 Department of Family Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria 2 Department of Family Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile –Ife, Osun State, Nigeria 3 Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria Received: 31 July, 2021 Accepted: 16 August, 2021 Published: 17 August, 2021 *Corresponding author: Dr. Olorunsola AM, Consultant, Department of Family Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, Tel: +2348030718626; E-mail: ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0091-1512 Keywords: Pattern; Predictors; Sexual behavior; Adolescents; Nigeria https://www.peertechzpublications.com Introduction Health related behaviours among young people are influenced by factors in which they live, learn and grow up [1]. Sexual attitudes and practices among adolescents are influenced by interaction of both personal and proximal factors which include socio-cultural, family structures and functions where they grow [2-6]. Adolescents are at different developmental stages with those in early period struggling with self- identity while the older adolescents from age eighteen years seek for intimacy [7]. Desire for intimacy and its associated odds for sexual involvement increase with age of adolescents [8-11]. Early exposure to sexual activity is not without risk, particularly the younger aged adolescents 15 -19 years practised more harmful sex as regards inconsistent condom use compared to 20-24 years old adolescents [12]. Sexual behaviours also vary with the gender of adolescents, for instance the average age of sexual debut among males may be earlier than that of females [8,13]. Likewise proportion of sexually active males are more than females [8,9]. However young females are more likely not to use condom and engage transactional sex for gain than their male counterparts [13,14]. The socioeconomic class of a young person influences sexual behaviour [14]. For instance, belonging to middle and low socioeconomic strata affect onset of sexual intercourse