IMPLICATIONS FOR HIV/AIDS INCIDENCE
Until recently, Nigerians honoured the sanctity of proper dressing habit. However, the advent of relaxation on dressing especially among young girls in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria in particular has threatened the cultural personality of the average Nigerian women. Since proper dressing was regarded as part of normal sociocultural standard that required no authority to enforce compliance. Every one grew up to embrace proper dressing as a way of life. In today's world, the event has been overturned and conspicuously replaced by obscene habits of half-nakedness and nudity (Odeleye, 2000; Rubinstein, 1995; Kuruvilla, 2007; Ojo and Odeleye, 2008.) while the phenomenon would have been regarded as mere advent of new culture or cultural Tiffany 1837 Interlocking circles necklace from the western world, its display in both public and 'reserved places' calls for serious concern. In addition, the fact that the young adolescent girls are the most *vulnerable to this cultural pollution makes the trend a worrisome development. Apriori expectations were that scanty dressing habit could have some effects on the sexual behaviour of adolescent girls which make them to be more exposed to HIV/ AIDS. This, in all ramifications, might not augur well for the future development of this country and other nations of sub-Saharan Africa. It is believed that nudity imitation is damaging missile into the lives of the adolescent girls. It sends positive signals to men who might sexually victimize them. This portends danger to already appalling level of sexual abuses that this category of girls faces in contemporary society.
Scanty dressing behaviour is an embodiment of anti-social comportment that is entrenched by the fad. It is a social change that is at variance with modest dressing habit which could attract other vices especially when considering the caliber of superficially mature adolescent girls who could take this liberty for license and explore its negative aspects for sexual gratifications. Scantily dressing could be misinterpreted by delinquent members of the opposite sex as an invitation for sexual congress. Therefore if all laudable objectives and efforts towards elimination/ reduction of HIV/ AIDS as visibly enshrined in Millennium Development Goals, National reproductive health strategic framework and plan (Federal ministry of Health, FMOH, 2002), HIV/ AIDS prevention guidance for reproductive health (Population Council and UNFPA, 2002), population and the quality of life in Nigeria (National Population Commission (NPC) and FMOH, 2004 and Vision 2020 are to yield fruitful results, all avenues to Airplane charm pendant immorality among this most vulnerable group should be discouraged. Thus, it is apparent that there is need to urgently scout out the illicit motives behind this new development in dressing habit. This study targeted the adolescent girls because of the position they occupy in continuity of life and sustainable development of every nation.
Specifically, adolescent is a period which an individual makes a gradual transition from childhood to adulthood. It is a period of being working towards independent from family members and establishing oneself among peers. An adolescent naturally become aware of their sexual drive and feels to be handled, touched, loved and cared for by someone of the opposite sex in the face of erroneous belief that she is 'matured' and can take meaningful decisions on her own but without adequate knowledge of future implications (Faoye and Lana, 1998). They are beset with myriads of challenges such as unwanted pregnancy, induced and unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/ AIDS, contraceptives use, childbearing, early marriages and so on. Therefore it is believed that this group of people required true knowledge of certain facts of life and informative literature that will guide them towards responsible and safe sexuality, hence the need for this study.
The thrust of this study among others is to examine the emerging permissiveness of scanty dressing habit in our society today and its effects on adolescent sexual comportments with their attendant implications for STDs/ HIV/ AIDS incidence in southwestern Nigeria. Effort was made to achieve this by finding out, amongst others, the perception of parents on scanty dressing habit and investigating the (hidden) motives behind certain dressing habits amongst adolescent girls (aged 10-19 years). The study was also designed to examine the Atlas charm bracelet community attitude towards scanty dressing habit as well as nudity. Socio-economic correlates of desire to be nude and wearing of revealing clothes were identified. The two hypotheses formulated were: whether there is a significant relationship between socioeconomic status, education, religious commitment, occupational status and scanty dressing habit; and whether there is a significant relationship between scanty dressing habit and incidence of sexual abuses and probable exposure to STDs/ HIV/ AIDS infections.
Among the important contributions of the study is that it revealed that education, sexuality education, awareness about HIV/ AIDS are significantly negatively related to the scanty dressing habit. This therefore serves as a signal to researchers, stakeholders and governments regarding all interventions towards the menace of HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria and other developing nations. In addition, the study is to fill the gap of dearth of information on interconnections between scanty dressing habit and probable exposure to HIV/ AIDS infections.
Literature review
The world has become a global village with high preponderance of inter and intra cultural transference of which dressing culture is not an exemption (Ojo and Fasubaa, 2005). However, while the dressing of a woman should show modesty and respect especially in the modern society of today, the presence of different kinds of tight transparent fashions, half dressing styles and nudity could be regarded as dishonour to the female folk (Wardrobe, 2006; Matthew, 2007). It is also a fact that variety of fashion are evolving from our ancestor's ancient mode of dressing to the current designers' dresses and suits over the years, but as society becomes trendy there is also a danger of failing to distinguish between what is fashion and what constitutes indecent dressing. With or without clarification, it is important that whatever has positive connotation with HIV/ AIDS incidence should be avoided. Thus, there is the need for adequate understanding of the likely interconnections between dressing nature and Atlas cuff links behaviour especially among the tender group who are by nature the opium of future development.
On the other hand, the alarming rate of cases of young girls who are being harassed by call-boys for being cladding carelessly seems to suggest that the proper definition of fashion in this age seems to have been misunderstood (Mangani, 2005). Adolescents are more predisposed to sexual activities nowadays because of some changes that have taken place in social system in the countries including Nigeria (Onwuamanam, 1995). While no one is contesting that women are free to exercise their human rights by dressing the way they wish in the name of fashion, the opposite sex could feel provoked by the offensive dressing displayed by the womenfolk (Mangani, 2005). It is no gainsaying that individual differences exist in wardrobe selection, and the fact that there are virtually no rules in terms of fashion especially in Nigeria, dressing etiquette is assumed to be understood by majority. Thus, concern is always raised wherever and whenever, this generational rule of thumb is flouted. The phenomenon aggravates more anxiety if those involved are the young folks who by nature gravitate to adults of tomorrow that could be economically harnessed for progressive development of our nations.
Study in adolescent sexuality is not new especially in the part of the country where this study was conducted. Among several authors that have dealt on various issues of sexual networking, multiple partners and HIV/ AIDS include but not limited to the following: Caldwell and Quiggins (1989), Caldwell and Caldwell (1996), Atlas I.D. money clip (1995), Augustina (2003) and Action Health Incorporate (2007). The fact that demographic events are dynamic in nature, and of course, for the basic reason that various unprecedented demographic patterns and changes in the world today have distorted or affected most handed-down standard definitions of population compositions validates the importance of continuous study on population phenomena (Caroline and Barney, 1993). This study is another eyes opener in the area of dressing and its linkage with sexual behaviour and HIV/ AIDS incidence among the adolescents. Adolescent girls as implied in this context mean girls in ages between 10 and 19 inclusive. Adolescent is a period of intense sexual drive, sexual experimentation and exploration, thus the new dispensation of sexual behaviour as exemplified by the scanty dressing habit requires thorough investigation. Although, various definitions abound for this group of population, the World Health Organisation (WHO) refers to adolescence as a period of transition from childhood to adulthood characterised by individual entry into puberty (WHO, 1989). It is an embodiment of a rapid change in biological, psychological and socio-cultural aspects of life and an upward progression socio-economic dependence to relative independence (WHO, 1989; WHO, 1999; Population Reports, 1995; Augustina, 2003; Federal Ministry of Health, 2007).
For the purpose of this study, scanty dressings connote the wearing of wears /dresses that are barely sufficiently covering the body. A scanty dress only covers the body from the waist no further than to the thighs or not adequately covering the waist. They are significantly less clothing than expected by the conventions of our culture and situations. Scanty dressing habit therefore represents the cladding in low cut clothes that do not cover the interest arousing parts and intimate parts of the body. It exposes girls' panties, sensitive parts of the body, bare back exposure, body contours, belly buttons, plain stomach exposure, bare skin, etc. These dresses are so insufficient that they obviously offend moral sensitivities of decent members of society.
HIV/ AIDS is a ravaging disease and sub-Saharan Africa region has been the hardest-hit by it. Its pattern in the region is acclaimed to be unique and the male-female dichotomy puts female at disadvantage than the converse. Over 6000 young people are contacting HIV daily and in sub-Saharan African region and 62 percent of the people living with HIV/ AIDS are young women (Population Council and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 2002; UNAIDS, 2002; National Population Commission (NPC) and Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), 2004). In addition, heterosexual intercourse is the most potent medium of its transmission in the region compared to other forms in other areas across the globe (Marc et al, 2003; Pemplenani, 2003). Notwithstanding that it was first discovered about 24 years ago in Nigeria, the prevalence rate which was 1.8 percent in 1991, rose to 3.8 percent in the 1993, 4.5 percent in 1995 and average of 5.2 percent in the year 2007 (Federal Ministry of Atlas pendant (FMOH), 2007). Currently the prevalence rate in Nigeria is 4.4% distributed into 4.6 Urban and 3.9 rural areas (FMOH, 2005 and 2007). Till date, there is general yearning for a decline in incidence of this terminal disease in all nooks and crannies of the nation. Since its first discovery in Nigeria in 1986 and until 1991 there was no intervention assessment by the Nigerian government. Several campaigns, initiatives and other interventions have been on the increase but the disease is till with us today.
Adolescent in Nigeria constitutes 22 percent (31,035,369 ) of the total population (140,461,790) out of which 48 percent are adolescent girls (National population Commission NPC, 2010). Therefore, considering this magnitude and coupled with the fact that the risk of and the vulnerability to HIV infection is particularly striking among them, their sexual comportment should be of utmost importance. Beside, the country, like other nations within sub -Sahara Africa, is long been noted for recognition of polygamous, concubinage, mistress and outside wives (Caldwell, Caldwell, and Quiggins, 1989; Odebiyi and Vivekananda, 1991). This syndrome in the recent past has also transformed to boy-girlfriend relationship and sexual relationship between the adult male and young girls (popularly called "aristo" syndrome).
While several literature abound on sexual relationships, poverty as a push factor to prostitution or harlotry, researchers have failed to consider the seemingly factors that attract men to these younger girls looking at the age differences and their backgrounds. Dressing attracts and absolute indecent scanty dressing attracts sexually. The first index of attraction cannot be dissociated from dressing styles or appearance. Thus, analysis of adolescents' sexual behaviour cannot be completed without highlighting the interconnections between their Atlas ring habits and their sexual life, hence the need for this study.
Research Design
Quantitative and qualitative research approaches were employed independently and complementally for data gathering. In the quantitative method, the survey data were collected through a faceto-face interview conducted by the author and four other trained interviewers. The study population consists of 283 adolescent girls who fall within the ages of 10 and 19 years in metropolitan city of Lagos in Nigeria. Although, the questionnaire was designed in English, every interviewer speaks and understands the universal adopted 'pidgin' language in the city and where necessary it was used to interpret the questions. In every case, a good rapport was established with the subjects and they were assured of confidential treatment of whatever information they supply. Already, each state has 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) with each LGA sub-divided into constituencies which serves as umbrella for several wards with each housing a number of Enumeration Areas (EAs). These enumeration areas within the wards were strictly followed in selecting qualified respondents for the interview. Only two LGAs and two constituencies were selected from the state. In each of the constituencies, two enumeration areas (EAs) were selected. From each enumeration areas, 75 houses were randomly selected from number of houses in the street. One household was selected from a house/ building and within the household only one female adolescent between the age of 10 and 19 years was interviewed. In all, 283 face-to-face interviews were successfully completed in the EAs selected for the study. Although this system followed a systematic sampling technique, the choice of the study areas was very subjective.
In the qualitative segment, focus group discussion (FGDs) and Indepth interviews were respectively used to enrich the result from the quantitative study. A total of four FGDs were organized amongst the target group while in-depth interviews focused only the parents and few stakeholders like the school proprietors Atlas toggle necklace company directors.
Data analyses were a combination of three statistical analytical techniques namely: univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis. The univariate segment comprises of descriptive statistics such as frequencies, to assess the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, inter-dependent association amongst identified variables vis-a-vis indulgence in scanty dressing habit. Series of cross -tabulations were performed in the bivariate analysis to identify the patterns of relationship between selected background variables and scanty dressing habit. Regression analysis was also employed as the third level of analysis principally to test hypotheses formulated. It was adopted because it can provide the line of best fit which explains how the typical value of the dependent variable changes when any one of the independent variables is varied assuming other independent variables are held constant (Hughes and Grawoig 1971; Sykes, 1993).
Information from the focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were transcribed and organized under different headings that depict different aspects of the discussion and used in explaining the quantitative analysis where and when necessary.
Results and Discussions
The demographic characteristics (table 1) indicated that the average age group of adolescents interviewed is 15-19 years. While 12.7 percent have not attended school, 60.4 percent had attained primary and secondary education while about 27 percent had experienced post secondary and other tertiary education. The parental status indicated that more than half of the respondents (58.3 percent) have both parents living and are staying together. Respondents from separated, divorced and single parent are 17%, 6.4% and 18.4% respectively. The child-parent rapport evaluated on a three point rating scale (very close rapport, little rapport, no rapport at all) show that 24.0 percent of the respondents have very close rapport with their parents, 40.3 percent described the rapport as very little while 25.7 percent claimed they have no rapport with their parents at all. In addition, the frequency of discussion with parents among those that have rapport with parents varied from very poor (41.3 percent), poor (31.8 percent), fair (11.3 percent) to good (15.5 percent). None of the respondent rated the level of discussion on sexuality with her parent as very good (table 1). Amongst various reasons adduced for this are: "the nature of work of their parents", "their non-availability at home or non-disposable for discussion". Others include, "not the family practice" and "never considered it as an issue worth discussing". This revelation indicated a great vacuum and laxity in parental obligations especially in discussion of dressing habit and behavior of the adolescent in the study areas.
Questions were canvassed on several dressing styles that respondents wear regularly and the response (table 1) shows that 37.1 percent wear scanty and skimpy styles, 23.3 percent prefer transparent/ revealing dresses, 14.1 percent wear see-through, 13.8 percent are used to sleeveless/ strapless and about 12 percent are not addicted to any style. Majority of adolescents considered scanty dressing styles as 'normal styles' and could not perceived any danger in wearing it to any occasion, anytime and at anywhere. Majority of the respondents regarded scanty dressing habit as pleasant and appropriate styles for their age while the minority considered that it could have some endangering effects on the dignity of womanhood. More than two-third wear these dress regularly (Table 1).
The study confirmed that about 56.5 percent of respondents have heard lectures/ instructions on types of dresses for outside home, 43.5 per cent have never been privilege to have such. Out of 160 respondents that have received lectures on dressing habit and sexuality, majority claimed that the social invectives of scanty clothing/ dressing were not mentioned. The major reason why they prefer scanty attire and responses range from "want to be noticed by big boys"; "dress to thrill" to "sex for cash".
The levels of consensual and non-consensual sexual attractions examined and the finding shows that nearly all that indulge in scanty dressing (91.35 percent) enjoys frequent wooing from their male acquaintances than their other counterparts. Table 1 also revealed that most scantily dressed girls have experienced physical harassment (34.6 %), unwanted touching (29 %) and verbal molestation (20.8%) from their male counterparts on different occasions. While among those that have experienced sexual intercourse, 51.9 percent have had casual sex at least once in the past three months, it is revealing to note that two -third of this category of respondents did no use condom during intercourse. Higher proportion of these girls claimed that they do not have stable sexual partners while over 50 percent of the respondents claimed that their partners are also having other partners.
The acquiescence of the Nigerian society towards the preponderance of scanty dressing is Bead bracelet and the concomitant adverse effects on adolescent girls' sexuality could be easily imagined especially in a globalised world of today. The study shows that there is a direct relationship between dressing habit and indecent sexual comportment. That positive relationship exists between girls that wear scanty attire and incidence of unwanted sex, unwanted pregnancies, early marriages, sexual violence/rape and abortion. Out of about 67 percent of respondents that wear scanty attire, 72 percent get wooed for friendship/ partnership on regularly basis and by different male friends or acquaintances. About 33 percent claimed they are satisfied with meeting new acquaintances on regular basis and would not want to stop wearing such attire or at least for now. About 67.8 percent (table 1) considered the habits as decent while several claimed it is Svhat is in vogue' though they believed that they are not always feeling secure especially while walking along the street/ road. While several respondents expressed that "fulfillment in participating in the latest wear is incomparable with whatever bully anyone might be receiving", others expressed that "it is the excessive consciousness you feel whenever you wear it that makes it more interesting to wear". The FGDs also revealed more as indicated hereunder.