Campus Architecture, Social Climate, and Risky Sexual Behaviour among Undergraduates:  A Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Olaitan Johnson Balogun; Loveness A.  Nkhata; Adisa Bolaji  Iyanda

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2537

Authors

Olaitan Johnson Balogun Department of Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Loveness A. Nkhata Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Adisa Bolaji Iyanda Department of Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2537

Keywords:

campus architecture, social climate, risky sexual behaviour, undergraduates, university health education, Nigeria, structural equation modelling

Abstract

Background:

The university environment presents unique spatial and social conditions that may predispose undergraduates to risky sexual behaviour. Despite growing evidence on sexual risk-taking among university students in sub-Saharan Africa, the role of campus architecture and social climate as predictors remains underexplored in Nigeria.

Objective:

This study examined the extent to which spatial and social settings of the university environment predict risky sexual behaviour among undergraduates at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. Using a multistage sampling procedure, 1,263 accommodated undergraduates were selected from nine halls of residence. Data were collected via the University Environment and Risky Sexual Behaviour Questionnaire (UERSBQ; Cronbach α = 0.89). Simple linear regression tested the two study hypotheses, supplemented by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to assess simultaneous and direct pathways through which both settings influence risky sexual behaviour.

Results:

Of the 1,263 participants, 55.3% were male and 44.7% female. Most (73.6%) were aged 15–24 years, and 83.4% reported being in a defined heterosexual relationship. Spatial setting significantly predicted risky sexual behaviour (R = 0.536, R² = 0.288, F(1, 1261) = 509.239, p < 0.001), as did social setting (R = 0.294, R² = 0.086, F(1, 1261) = 119.340, p < 0.001). SEM confirmed acceptable model fit (χ²/df = 2.41, CFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.048) and revealed that spatial setting exerted a stronger direct effect (β = 0.52, p < 0.001) than social setting (β = 0.27, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Both campus architecture and social climate independently and significantly predict risky sexual behaviour among undergraduates.

Recommendations:

Universities must strengthen sexuality health education programmes and implement environmental management strategies to mitigate sexual risk-taking on campus.

Author Biographies

Olaitan Johnson Balogun, Department of Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

is a distinguished Researcher and Public Health professional Lecturer at the Department of Health Education, University of Ibadan, and currently holds a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He holds a PhD in School and Community Health Education and a Master of Public Health with specialization in Health Promotion & Education from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, respectively. His research focuses on Systematic reviews, scoping reviews, public health interventions, maternal health, adolescents’ mental health, reproductive health, and community development.

Loveness A. Nkhata, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

is a distinguished Lecturer-Researcher and Clinical Epidemiologist at the Department of Physiotherapy, University of Zambia, and currently holds a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She holds a PhD in Physiotherapy and an MMedSc in Clinical Epidemiology, both from Stellenbosch University, as well as a Master of Public Health from the University of Zambia. Her research focuses on systematic reviews and meta-analyses in global health, musculoskeletal and spinal health interventions, paediatric rehabilitation, and implementation science in African health systems.

Adisa Bolaji Iyanda, Department of Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

is a prolific writer with a background in Health Education (Hons.) with a first class, M.Ed. in School and Community Health Education, with a Grade of proceed to PhD from the University of Ibadan, and a PhD in Health Education from the University of Ibadan. His area of research is the psychology of health and adolescent nutrition in the Department of Health Education. He teaches research methodology and statistics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He is presently the assistant secretary of the School Health Educators and Professional Association in Nigeria. He is a member of some Professional Associations, including the Nigerian Association for Physical Health Education, Recreation, Sports, and Dance (NAPHER-SD), School Health Educators and Professional Association in Nigeria, and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. He has over twenty publications in reputable learned journals in Nigeria and internationally.

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