Adverse Effects of Pre-Marital Sex Among Christian Youths
Chapter One
Objectives of the study
This research aims at examining adverse effect of Pre Marital Sex on Christian Youths in Kogi State.” The study seeks to achieve its aims through the following objectives which are:
- To find out the causes of Pre Marital Sex among Christian Youths in Kogi State.
- To find out the effects of Pre Marital Sex on Christian Youths in Kogi State.
- To suggest possible ways of minimizing Pre Marital Sex among Christian Youths in Kogi State.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
This chapter attempted to review some selected literatures, which have dealt with the topic under consideration. The review was considered under the following headings: Concept of Morality; Concept of Immorality; Concept of Sex; Concept of Pre Marital Sex; Old Testament Teaching about Attitude towards Pre Marital Sex; New Testament Teaching about Pre Marital Sex, Causes of immorality in the society, Review of Empirical Studies and Summary.
Concept of Morality
The word morals comes from Latin word “Moralis”. Every community has its own idea of what is naturally good or bad, right or wrong. These ideas are less often on the community’s religious views, but concerned with moral values which have influence on people. Adewole (1989) explains that morality is concerned with man’s relationship with man in terms of what is right or wrong which consequently serve as guide for promoting citizenship togetherness. According to Mallum, Haggai and Ajaegbu (2002), morality is the knowledge of right and wrong, good or bad. With Morality, Individuals will know the obligations expected of them in the society and strive towards doing them the right way. Ilori (1994) explains that the idea of morality is a highly specific and restricted concept. He further states that it is customarily used principally in connection with social behaviour. Uba (1980) (as cited in Oladele, 1984) argues that morality signifies adherence to the moral code of the group, that is, conformity in behaviour to the manner or customs of the social group. Further still, Oladele, (1984) is of the opinion that morality has to do with conforming to a set of conventional rules for determining one’s social actions and which have been internalized. In the same vein, Mbiti (1975:45) summarized the meaning of morality thus:
Morality is part of religion which deals with the ideas that safeguard or uphold the life of people in their relationship with one another and the world around them. Values and morals cover topics like truth, justice, love, right and wrong; good and evil, beauty, decency respect for people and property, the keeping of promises and agreements, praises and blame, crime and punishment, the rights and responsibilities of both the individual and his community, character, integrity and so on.
However, for the purpose of this study, morality is perceived as the ability to know and do what is acceptable before God and the society. Since morality has to do with conformity in behaviour to the manner and customs of the social group, we can then agree that there is no society without codes of conducts, the fact is that these codes of conduct differ from one society to another. However, no matter the differences, there are some commonalities among the codes of conduct in any society. For instance, a Christian anywhere in the world is expected to live a moral life that is guided by the principles of God as outlined in the Holy Bible.
Moral attitudes put together, help people in communities to live with one another, settle their differences, maintain peace and harmony, make use of their belongings and have relationships with their total environment. Therefore, what is morally good is said to be what befits human beings, what is decent for other people, what dignifies other people, what renders respect, contentment and prosperity to people and the community.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter describes the methodology used in this study; it includes a discussion on the Research Design, Population of the Study, Sample and Sampling Techniques, Instrumentation, Validity of the Instrument, Pilot Study, Reliability of the Instrument, Administration of Questionnaire, Method of Data Analysis.
Research Design
Nworgu (1991) viewed research design in any area of study as a plan or blue print which specifies how data relating to a given problem should be collected and analyzed. It provides the procedural outline for the conduct of any investigation.
This study employs the survey method. Denga (1989), says research design is a descriptive design which seeks to study people or items in groups. Bello and Ajayi (2000) took a descriptive survey research to mean those studies which are aimed at collecting data through observation, interview or questionnaire and describing in a systematic manner, the characteristics, features, peculiarities and facts about a given phenomenon or population. In like manner, the researcher in this study is concerned with gathering data about Pre Marital Sex among Christian Youths in Kogi state.
Population of the Study
The population of this study comprises secondary school students and teachers in Kogi State. Considering the extensive nature of the target population, it is quite clear that it is too large to handle within a short period of time. The researcher gives a description of the population and state the number of secondary schools, teachers and students to be used.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS
Introduction
This chapter presents the analysis and interpretation of the data collected from the questionnaire. The instrument was geared towards finding information on Pre Marital Sex among Christian Youths in Kogi state. The first part of this involves a general presentation of data. The secondary part deals with the test of hypotheses formulated in chapter one, followed by the discussion.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
This study examined Pre Marital Sex among Christian Youths in Kogi state. The statement of the problem focused on the alarming rate of Pre Marital Sex among Christian Youths. Despite the efforts of religious institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations to curb this problem it is obvious that Pre Marital Sex still persists. In order to achieve the aim of the study, three objectives and three hypotheses were formulated. The main objectives include to identify the causes, effects and possible ways of minimizing the scourge. The main population are secondary school students and teachers in Kogi state. A total population of seven hundred and fifty respondents (750) were selected as sample for this study. The sample size of students selected was four hundred (400) while the sample size of teachers was three hundred and fifty (350). The Scope of this study focuses mainly on the causes and effects of Pre Marital Sex and it concentrates on Christian Youths in Kogi state.
Chapter two dealt with the review of related literature. Old and New Testament teaching about Pre Marital Sex were discussed. In the Old Testament, it was totally condemned with severe punishment while in the New Testament it is forgiveness with mercy; but it does not mean that the New Testament condones it. The involvement of teenagers, adolescents, youths in immorality in the society can be traced to the following factors such as parental negligence, economic hardship, peer group, influence of mass media, poverty, desire for social approval e.t.c while the attendant effects of the factors mentioned above are, indiscipline unwanted pregnancy, abortion e.t.c were discussed.
The survey method was used in the study and data were collected through the use of questionnaire which contained thirty-five items organized into four sections. The questionnaire thus developed was administered by the researcher on seven hundred and fifty (750) respondents in the three senatorial zones in Kogi state. The data collected were statistically analysed to determine the causes and the effects of Pre Marital Sex among Christian Youths in Kogi State.
T-test was use in the analysis of the data, major findings revealed that Pre Marital Sex among Christian Youths is caused by poverty, parental negligence, peer group e.t.c while the attendant effects are unwanted pregnancy, abortion e.t.c.
Conclusions
From the outcome of the findings, the general conclusion of the study is that the development of moral behaviour follows a gradual and deliberate process. It is in the light of this that this research work suggests that Christian parents/guardians should take special interest in curbing moral decadence among the youths. When the thought of the youth is modified or transformed their actions will definitely be transformed. Based on the findings, the following conclusions were drawn:
- That parents/guardians failed in their responsibility to train or bring up their children in the way of the Lord is greatly responsible for their Female children involvement in Pre Marital Sex
The basic foundation of any society is the family. The family is the bedrock of everything and is the cradle of civilization in whatever sphere. It is the parents/guardians who should begin teaching their children about the values of the society. Because such an important function of parents is no longer taken seriously, children grow to see nothing wrong with Pre Marital Sex.
Parents/guardians have to rise to their responsibilities as first teachers of their children if the fight against Pre Marital Sex is to succeed.
- That the Christian Youths in secondary schools are ignorant about the attendant effects of Pre Marital Sex.
- That the government has failed in carrying out some of its
Recommendations
Based on the findings of the research, the following recommendations are made.
- Christian parents/guardian should have a genuine means of livelihood, provide the basic needs for their female children, teach their female children to be hard working, engage them in honest trade, and they should watch the type of friends they keep and video films they watch at home.
- Christian Youths should abstain from sex and wait until they are married, if they get pregnant, they should not go for abortion rather they should keep the pregnancy and give birth to the
- Government should improve the economy, censor magazines, video films that are immoral and ensure enough public awareness on the evils of Pre Marital Sex. The promotion of immoral programmes and films by the media should be discouraged by the government since the students are often the first victims of such. More programmes and films which portray the riches of societal values like sexual restrain, the veneration of virginity and frowning at immoral behaviours should be encouraged. Through this, the students or the young will grow to appreciate the dignity of sexual discipline and not seek to imitate something that run contrary to decency.
Suggestions for Further Research
- It is suggested that similar study be carried out on indiscipline in tertiary
- The researcher further recommends that a study be conducted on the place of Christian moral education for sustainable development in Nigeria.
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