title: Influence of internet exposure on sexual behaviour of young persons in an urban district of Southwest Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The proportion of young people exposed to pornographic materials through the internet in Nigeria is increasing. However, the influence of the exposure on their sexual behaviour has not been fully explored. This study therefore explored the effects of internet exposure on the sexual behaviour of young persons in Ibadan North Local Government Area of southwest Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of 413 young persons was done using a pretested self-administered questionnaire which included questions on internet exposure and its influence on behaviour. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of males was 21.7 ± 3.4 years while that of females was 20.9 ± 3.2 years. Forty-nine percent of the respondents used the internet for the first time between the ages of 15-19 years. Main source of information about the internet was friends (63.3%) and 99.3% accessed the internet from cybercafé. Seventy-two percent had ever stumbled on pornographic sites. Reactions included glancing through before closing (45.2%), closure of the sites (38.5%), and minimizing page to view later (12.5%). Post-exposure influence on behaviour included engagement in oral sex (48.3%), body tattoo (18.3%), having multiple sexual partners (11.6%) and homosexuality (5.0%). More males (95% CI OR =1.245-6.465) and frequent users (95% CI OR =1.168-3.497) were likely to report a change in sexual behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internet use was common among the young persons. Interventions aimed at reducing exposure to sexual content on internet targeting young persons especially the males and cybercafé operators are advocated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oyedunni Sola
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Arulogun
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Family Health International (FHI 360), Monitoring & Evaluation Department, Plot 1073 A-1, Godab Plaza J.S. Tarka Street, Area 3, Garki Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ifeyinwa Arinze
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ogbu
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Isaac Oluwafemi
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Dipeolu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004882:Erotica / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D012147:Restaurants; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Internet use; pornographic sites; sexual behaviour; young persons