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Author:
Adegboyega G.J., Ocholi E.F., Adikwu V.O
Department of Guidance and Counseling, University of Abuja

DOI: doi.org/10.58924/rjhss.v5.iss1.p4

Published Date: 12-Feb, 2026

Keywords: Prevalence, Consequences, Sexual Phenomenon, Moral Institutions, Perception, Religious Clerics, North Central

Abstract:
Abstract: This study examined the prevalence and consequences of sexual phenomenon as perceived by religious clerics in North-Central Nigeria, with implications for counselling. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. From a population of 602 religious clerics, a sample of 234 clerics comprising 108 Muslim clerics and 126 Christian clerics was selected from Plateau, Kwara, and Niger States using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured instrument titled Prevalence, Perception and Consequences of Sexual Phenomenon in Moral Institutions Questionnaire (PPCSPMIQ). The reliability of the instrument was established through the test–retest method, with data analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, Received: 19-01-2026 Revised: 22-01-2026 Accepted 28-01-2026 Published: 12-02-2026 Copyright:© 2026 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). yielding a reliability index of 0.73. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. Mean scores and standard deviations were used to answer the research questions, while the independent samples t-test was applied to test the null hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that sexual phenomenon is fairly prevalent in moral institutions as perceived by religious clerics in North-Central Nigeria. The study further revealed that sexual phenomenon was perceived to have varied and negative consequences within moral institutions in the study area. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that Religious institutions should organize interdenominational seminars for religious clerics to promote and intensify sermons and messages to the adolescents and youths on sexual abstinence, health sexual behaviours and appropriate sexual conduct in order to reduce the incidences of unhealthy sexual exploitation, teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

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