The influence of sexual activity on the academic performance of students in secondary schools and universities in Dar es salaam city, Tanzania

This study examined to what extent sexual relationship influenced academic performance in high learning institutions and secondary schools in Tanzania. As it was observed that, students who have just joined high schools and University, find themselves in a state of excitement and a significant increase in sexual exposures. This was a cross sectional comparative study carried out at the University of Dar es Salaam and three secondary schools in Kinondoni district from January to March, 2010. Out of 11,748, undergraduates' students 150 were selected and out 1152 A level secondary school students, 113 were selected, giving a total of 263 respondents who answered a self-administered questionnaire. In addition, 3 discipline masters' service providers as care givers were also interviewed. The mean age of the participants was 23 years. Almost all students had ever had sexual intercourse (84.0%). There was negative relationship between sexual intercourse and academic performance. It was found that sexual relationship affected students differently in secondary and university. The main influence of sexual relationship in secondary students was failure in examinations while in university was supplementary and discontinuation from studies. However, the major factor contributing to students' involvement in sexual relationship was self-desire/curiosity due to age (37.7%). Other factors were companion, peer pressure, economic situation and rape. Different sexual patterns were found in this study such as multiple partners and non-use of contraceptives .The family background factors were found to have an influence on student's sexual behaviors like family income, parental education, family structure and child background (rape). The study found out different academic problems associated with sexual relationship. The major problem was poor academic performance and pregnancies. Others were HIV/AIDS, depression/stress, death due to suicide and poor concentration on studies. The ever pregnancy rate was 5.6%. Among those respondent who had been pregnant 2.3% reported to give birth and 3.4% terminated their pregnancies. This study concluded that there was negative relationship between sexual relationship and academic performance. It was recommended that, there should be a provision of ideal sexuality and reproductive health information to students through joint effort by parents, counsellors and educators.