HOMELESSNESS AND SURVIVAL-SEX AS PREDICTORS OF THE PREVALENCE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN OWERRI, IMO STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Sexually transmitted diseases have been repeatedly identified as a major social menace that threatens the health and development of youths across the globe. Recent incidents of destruction of homes and workplaces in Owerri city has led to increased level of homelessness and joblessness in the city making survival more difficult. This study examined Homelessness and Survival sex as predictors of the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) among young adults in Owerri. Participants were two hundred and fifty (250) (148 males and 102 females) adults sampled from Owerri, Imo State using the convenience sampling technique. Participants were within the ages of 18 and 35 years with a mean age of 24.79 years and Standard Deviation of 3.73. Four hypotheses were tested. Three instruments; Homelessness Questionnaire (HQ), Survival Sex Questionnaire (SSQ) and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Questionnaire (PSQ) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed with SPSS Version 20 using Percentages, Frequencies, Chi-Square and Multiple Regression. The result of the study showed a significantly low prevalence of STDs among young adults in Owerri. Homelessness and survival sex were significant predictors of the prevalence of STDs among young adults in Owerri. The study concluded that there is significant occurrence of STDs among homeless and survival-sex-practicing young adults in Owerri.A major recommendation is that the government of Imo State should desist from activities that render people resident in Owerri homeless and jobless so as to reduce the incidence of homelessness and survival sex among the youth of Owerri.