Impact of global popular youth culture on the sexual behavior of adolescents in Nigeria: Implications for HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention

Nigeria is currently experiencing rapid social change, due largely to the forces of globalization. At the same time, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country continues to grow, particularly among young people. HIV/AIDS statistics show that young people between the ages of 15 to 24 years constitute one of the most affected groups in the country. There is emerging evidence showing that global economic and cultural forces impact youth sexual risk through various avenues. However, despite this growing awareness, investigations on the impact of these factors on adolescent sexual behaviors in Nigeria are limited. This study examines the impact of social change on adolescent sexual behaviors in Nigeria. It focuses on exploring how socio-cultural factors, particularly global popular youth culture and socio-economic processes initiated by globalization, affect the sexual behaviors of young people in Nigeria. Data collection and analyses involved qualitative and quantitative approaches. The sample consisted of 300 secondary school students. Results from analyses revealed that a high proportion of young people engage in risky sexual behaviors, young people are making their sexual debut at a very young age, with the majority (72%) of those that are sexually active having their sexual debut before age 15. Analyses showed that exposure and orientation to popular culture are significantly associated with risky sexual behaviors among youth. Findings from the study indicate that globalization processes are presenting added challenges for HIV/AIDS risk and prevention for Nigerian youth.