Mobile Phone Chatting And Sexual Activity Through the Internet Among Undergraduates In Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Studies have ofteninvestigated mobile phone chatting and their influence on adolescents'

sexualbehaviour but rarely the specific role of the adolescents' relationships with social media in

prevention of risk sexual behaviour.This study investigated the influence of mobile phone

chatting on sexual behaviour by focusing on undergraduates in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The

study was guided by theory of socialisation and problem behaviour theory. The target population

of this study were undergraduates in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Leslie Fisher's sampling

technique was used to purposively select 380 undergraduates as the sainple si~e who participated

in the study. Quantitative data wa~ collected from respondents through survey method using a

questionnaire. The Univariate analysis revealed high usage of mobile phone chatting and high

prevalence of sexual activity through the internet among undergraduates. The Bivariate analysis

revealed that there is an association between sexual activity through the internet and mobile

phone chatting. The Multivariate analysis revealed that those who are engaged in mobile phone

chatting are more likely to have ever be involved in sexual activity through the internet. Based

on the findings discussed, this study recommended that government should empower social

media to serve as a medium of education and information rather than just a tool that serve as a medium of sexuality.