Prevalence of premarital sex and factors influencing it among students in a private tertiary institution in Nigeria

Prevalence of premarital sex and factors influencing it among students in a private tertiary institution in Nigeria

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premarital sex

INTRODUCTION Sexual activities among adolescents have been reported to be increasing worldwide. Several studies in SubSaharan Africa have also documented high and increasing premarital sexual activities among adolescents (World Health Organization, 2001). However, viewing youth as a specific group with their own needs is a relatively recent practice, especially in developing countries (Judith, 1999). Cultural taboos hinder young people in many developing countries to discuss sexual matters explicitly with their parents. Most information for their patchy knowledge comes from peers of the same sex who may themselves lack adequate information or are incorrectly informed. Taffa et al. (2002) suggested *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. that young people have limited knowledge about sexual and reproductive health and know little about the natural process of puberty. This lack of knowledge about reproductive health may have grave consequences.premarital sex.premarital sex

Moreover, sexual activities are occurring in the midst of an HIV/AIDS pandemic that is proportionately affecting adolescents and young adults. On the other hand, young people often face enormous pressure especially from peers to engage in sex, unlicensed erotic video films and the desire for economic gain.,premarital sex  As a result of this, significant number of adolescents are involved in sexual activities at an early age (Alexander and Hickner, 1997; Taffa et al., 2002). Young people in Ethiopia are also exposed to various risks such as unprotected sex, early marriage, early pregnancy and STIs/HIV/AIDS. Studies have shown that in Ethiopia 60% of pregnancies are unwanted or unintended (WHO, 2001). Fikadu and Fikadu (2000) opined that premarital sex is one of the reproductive health problems witnessed among youth. Studies have also revealed that the prevalence of premarital sex among school youth is higher in Oromia (31.3%) than nationally (19%) (HAPCO, 2000). However, factors that contribute to such an early initiation of sexual practices were not dealt with in the study area. Due to sensitivity of this issue, young people receive inadequate education, guidance and services on reproductive health (Judith, 1999). With their limited knowledge about their bodies and their sexuality, they find themselves vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases and infections, including HIV/AIDS, unplanned early childbearing and unsafe abortions. In the USA, sexual behaviour differed by ethnicity, age, and urban/rural location (Grunbaum et al., 2002).premarital sex

In Thailand and Philippines, family structure was associated with premarital sex; youths living with one parent have higher rate of sexual activity than those living with both parents (Choe et al., 2004). For many adolescents, experimenting with tobacco, alcohol, sex, and drugs are rites of passage. Associations between sexual activity and substance use have been a consistent research finding. In Kenya, the single most important predictor of sexual activity among adolescent women was the use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco (Kiragu and Zabin, 1993). Studies from the USA also reported similar findings (Coker et al., 1994). There is a growing evidence of young men having sex with men (MSM) exploratory behaviour among boys in Bangladesh; though no national data on young MSM is available. A need assessment study for prevention of HIV/STIs among MSM in the age group of 21 to 30 years in Dhaka revealed that the mean age of first sex with other males was mostly between 10 to 12 years (Rani et al., 2003). Most of them sold sex with seven or eight clients per night and 40% did not know anything about condoms. Premarital sex, particularly if it occurs outside of a stable union that will lead to marriage, is considered socially as a taboo. Nnachi (2003) observed that in terms of behavioural problems, sex abuse appeared to be one of the most serious offences committed by children and youth. Obiekezie-Ali (2003) supported this instance with a United Nation’s (2000) information on reproductive health, which shows that many Nigerian girls are known to start involvement in active sex at the early age of thirteen years. The age of initial sexual experience and involvement thus becomes younger than fifteen years as found by Esen (1974). Okonkwo and Eze (2000) observed that today’s situation shows a sharp contrast to the traditional Nigerian societal context in which girls avoided pre-marital sexual experiences for fear of social punishments usually meted out to girls who lost their virginity before marriage. Apart from the blame apportioned to parents for their negligence as earlier mentioned, some people are of the opinion that adolescents are naturally open to the normal sex drive Adeoye et al. 7 while this drive is incensed by the impact of permissive Western culture transmitted through the sexual stimuli conveyed by the mass media. Denga (1983) pointed out that sexually explicit movies expose young people to adult issues at an “impressionable age.” Others opine that the use of pornographic materials as well as knowledge and use of contraceptives, especially the condom that has been excessively advertised, has contributed immensely to the involvement of adolescents in sexual practices (Onuzulike, 2002). These and other evidence in the literature show that a real problem exists. The study also tried to find out which factors influence the young people toward sexual practices and to what extent.premarital sex

This will then serve as a starting point for determining what interventions to carry out in order to help young people in their sexual adjustment. METHODS Design The study adopted as descriptive survey design of ex-post facto type, which involve the giving out of questionnaire to elicit information from young people. This is so because the researcher is only interested in determining the influence of the predictors’ variables (gender, age grouping and family background) on the criterion variables (premarital sex). Population, sample and sampling techniques The population for this study was made up of youth whose ages ranged from 14 to 25 years, chosen from Babcock University, Ilishan in Ikenne Local Government of Ogun state of Nigeria. A sample of 300 undergraduate students that fall between the age ranges was randomly selected.premarital sex

The mean age of the respondent was 21.7 while the standard deviation was 6.291. Instrumentation The instrument consists of structured questions developed by the researchers. Section A consisted of demographic data on the family, sex and age. Section B consisted of structure questions which measure premarital sexual activities. The questions were made in such a way that it measured different aspect of premarital sexual activities. There are seven subscales in which 5 questions were asked to generate information. Participant responded to the questions statement in a 4 – point Likert scale ranging from Never = 1, Rarely – 2, Sometimes -3 and Usually- 4. Validity and reliability The questionnaire was subjected to face validity and content validity by the assistance of experts in research method. Some questions were reconstructed, while some were deleted. A reliability coefficient of 0.83 was obtained via a test-retest method. RESULTS H1: There is no significant difference between gender, age and family background on premarital sexual activities. 8 Int. J. Psychol. Couns. Table 1. Analysis of variance ANOVAa . Model Sum of squares Df Mean square F Sig Regression 566.600 3 188.667 Residual 16924.688 296 57.178 3.303 0.024 Total 5140.810 299 Significant at 0.05 level; df = 3.296, critical value = 2.60. aDependent variable: premarital sexual activities. Table 2. Independent t-test of age grouping and premarital sexual activities. Age grouping (Years) N Mean Std deviation df t. Sig. 14-18 134 48.0667 6.05294 298 0.319 0.379 19-25 166 48.7797 6.4678 Significant at 0.05 level; df = 298, critical value = 1.960. Table 3. Multiple regression showing relative contribution of each of the independent variables on dependent variable. Variable Unstandarized co-efficient Standard co-efficient β t Sig. β Std. Error Constant 54.544 5.252 10.328 0.000 Gender 0.04499 1.768 0.083 0.825 0.980 Family 3.970 1.826 0.439 4.174 0.033 Age 0.229 1.608 0.216 2.142 0.887 Dependant variable: – premarital sexual activities.premarital sex

The result in Table 1 indicated that there is a significant difference between the gender, age and family background and premarital sexual activities, as F (3,296) = 3.303; P< .05. Thus, the hypothesis of no significant difference is thus discarded and the alternate is accepted. The finding implies that premarital sexual activities are affected by the 3 independent variable. H2: There is no significant difference between 14 to 15 years and 19 to 25 years and premarital sexual activities. Table 2 shows that there is no significant difference between the age grouping and premarital sexual activities. It is seen that t = 0.319; df = 298; P> 0.05. Hence the hypothesis of no significant difference is upheld. That is age grouping does not have anything to do with premarital sexual activities. H3: There is no significant relative contribution of gender, age and family background to premarital sexual activities.premarital sex

In Table 3, the relative contribution of each independent variable is seen. It shows the corresponding Beta and the t-value. Family background contributed most to premarital activities (β=0.439; t=4.174; P<0.05) followed by age grouping as (β = 216; t = 2.142 P<.05) and finally by Gender, (β = .083; t = .825; P > .05). Hence, the hypothesis of no significant difference is discarded and the alternate is accepted. DISCUSSION Consequent upon the analysis of data, the following findings were arrived at: Hypothesis one indicates a significant difference between gender, age and family background on youth premarital sexual activities.premarital sex

This finding is in line with (Egbochukwu, 2007) who opines that gender and age are determinants of premarital sex. Also considering the gender, it is a known fact there is sex difference in human. It is a common belief that male adolescents react more in sexual behaviour than their female counterpart. On the other hand, youthful periods are time in which the young people exhibit youthful tendencies; hence, it is expected that both gender and age will produce a significant difference. Also, the role of family background is not surprising to the researchers. Family background is the bed rock of success in any society, that is, when the family background is good, it has a positive influence in the society and a shaking family background would produce the problematic children to the society. In view of the fact that Nigerian family does not have a solid foundation in which children bound from illegimate homes, children of such homes cannot be expected to behave better in the society. Hence, one expects nothing better than anti social behaviour like premarital social behaviour. The most surprising thing to the researchers is the second hypothesis. It was expected that the age grouping (between 14 to 15 years and 19 to 25 years) of young people would have effects on youth premarital sexual behaviours, but we are proved wrong as age grouping has no significance difference to youth sexual behaviour. This might have been due to the fact that the two age ranges fall within the youth period in which bubbling life is still being expected. The last hypothesis indicates significant relative contribution of gender, age and family background on premarital sexual activities. It is revealed that family back ground contribute most to the premarital activities followed by age and lastly by gender. This is not surprising in that good family background has been said to be bedrock of any good society. In view of moral decadence in the society, family background is expected.premarital sex

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the findings, it is therefore concluded that gender and family background have significant impact on premarital sexual activities of young people while age grouping has no impact on premarital sexual activities of young people. Arising from the findings of the study, the following recommendations are hereby made: 1) Since age and gender are strong determinants to premarital sexual activities, parents should monitor their children closely especially during the time of their youth, 2) Each family must strive to live a decent life in such a way that children from such background do have something to emulate, 3) Parents should be closer to their wards, so that young people feel free to discuss with them, 4) Parents should live to set good example to their children on living a decent life, and Adeoye et al. 9 5) The counselors, psychologists and social workers should also launch a campaign against premarital sexual activities. REFERENCES Alexander E, Hickner J (1997). First coitus for adolescents: Understanding why and when. J. Am. Board Fam. Pract., 1092: 96- 103. Choe M, Hatmadji S, Podhisita C, Raymundo C, Thapa S (2004). Substance use and premarital sex among adolescents in Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Thailand. Asia Pac. Popul. J., 19: 5-26 Coker A, Richter D, Valois R (1994). Correlates and consequences of early initiation of sexual intercourse. J. Sch. Health; 64: 372-7 Esen AJA (1974). “A study of adolescent sexuality in Nigeria”. West Afr.J. Educ., 18(18): 445-453 Fikadu A, Fikadu K (2000). Creating a better future for Ethiopian Youth. A conference on ARH,premarital sex.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Grunbaum J, Kann L, Kinchen A (2002). Youth risk behavior surveillance, United States, 2001. MMWR Surveill Summ, 51: 1-62. HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO) (2000). Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BSS) in Ethiopia. Judith S (1999). Making Reproductive Health Service Youth – Friendly.premarital sex ,Research, program and policy Series. Kiragu K, Zabin L (1993). The correlates of premarital sexual activity among school-age adolescents in Kenya. Int. Fam. Plann. Perspect., 19: 92-109 Mensch S, Clark W, Anh N (2003).Adolescents in Vietnam: looking beyond reproductive health. Stud. Fam. Plann., 34(4): 249-262. Nnachi RO (2003). “Causes, consequences and control of behaviour problems among Nigerian children” in Nnachi, RO. and Ezeh PSE (Eds.). (2003). The behavior problems of the Nigerian Child. Awka.premarital sex ,The Nigerian Society for Educational Psychologists (NISEP). Okonkwo R, Eze I (2000). “Attitude of Nigerian Adolescents to premarital sexual behaviour. Implications for sex education”. J. Counsel., 1(1): 21-26. Onuzulike O (2002). “Entry permit in changing attitudes”. Afrika Heritage. J. Pan- Afr. Circle Artists, pp 21-26 Rani M, Figueroa M, Ainsle R (2003). The psychosocial context of young adult sexual behaviour in Nicaragua: looking through the gender lens. Taffa, Sundby, Holm & Gunner. Int. Fam. Plann. Perspect., 29:174-81 Taffa N, Sundby J, Holm-Hansen C, Gunner B (2002). HIV prevalence and socio-economic contexts of sexuality among youth in A.A., Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Health Dev., 16(2): 139-145 Vietnam Ministry of Health (2005). Survey Assessment of Vietnamese Youth, Hanoi, Vietnam: Vietnam Ministry of Health, Graph 12, p. 40. World Health Organization (2001). Sexual relations among young people in developing countries: Evidence from WHO Case Studies. Geneva.

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