Adolescent Decision-Making about Sex and Sexual Relationships among the Perspective of Displaced Adolescent in Camps in Benue State, Nigeria

Ngwibete Atenchong, Paulesi

Maslow’s Theory provides a useful framework for studies evaluating concerns about decision-making based on human needs. This study assessed adolescents' decision-making about sex and sexual relationships during times of displacement in Benue State, Nigeria. It used a qualitative approach, collecting data using an interview guide structured using the Maslow hierarchy of needs. Pre-coded themes were used in the thematic analysis. Displaced adolescent girls' ambivalence in decision-making, low self-esteem, and vague aspirations significantly influence their decision to remain in sexual relationships or have sex. The participants' engagement in sex was often influenced by the need to satisfy get basic needs or a promise fulfilled, while male deciding power overruled for sex in general and safe sex practices. These results underscore the necessity for interventions that not only attend to the physiological, safety, and social requirements but also disrupt dominant gender norms, boost self-esteem, and foster defined future goals among displaced girls.