Assessment of the Causes of Premarital Sex Among Undergraduate Students
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this research work is;
- To assessment of the causes of premarital sex among undergraduate students of the University of Benin.
- The effect of premarital sex and possible suggestions for preventing or curbing this menace.
- To investigate the magnitude of premarital sexual practice and predisposing factors among unmarried undergraduate students in University of Benin.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
This chapter reviews the literature on the causes of premarital sex among undergraduate students. It discusses issues arising from the topic of discuss as viewed from different perspectives, with a view of giving a theoretical and empirical foundation to the study.
LITERATURE
Premarital sex is the involvement in sexual intercourse by persons who have not engaged in marital vow or culturally recognized as having been enrolled in marriage institution. Although marriage rites take different forms depending on cultural permissiveness, nevertheless the major thrust is the acceptance by the society. In most cases, premarital sex is not always a problem to individuals who are sexually matured since they may view it as a natural response to a natural stimulus. However, premarital sex is morally unacceptable in almost every human society that regards marriage as the legitimate requirement for sexual permissiveness, and especially among youths who are considered vulnerable to health – related problems. Both Christianity and Islam (the major religions in Nigeria) vehemently oppose premarital sex and thus prescribed specific punishment for culprits. Sometimes, premarital sex is rebranded as fornication because of its implication. In this context, keeping the marriage bed holy suggests abstinence from sex before marriage while sexually immoral refers to any unacceptable sexual acts particularly premarital sex. Thus, it is also clear that Christian faithful are prohibited from engaging in sex before marriage (premarital sex). The traditional practice which made premarital sex abominable paved way with the advent of civilization across the globe. In particular, the emergence of the so-called “sex liberation” in the Western world in 1960s and 1970s significantly legitimized the acceptance of sexual behaviours, including premarital sex, outside marriage (Abraham & Kumar, 1999). The modern society thus appears to be more permissive in many ways because premarital sex has become an ‘ordinary’ activity that permeates the adolescent group in particular and the entire human existence. According to Arumala (2005), the prevalence of premarital sex among adolescents is evidenced in the magnitude of unwanted (teenage) pregnancies, abortions, high rate of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and death resorting from sexual activities among youths age group 13 to 21 years old. Scott (2006) corroborates this when he stated that, throughout the world; most young people have had sex before they reach 19 years of age (the adolescence and pre-marriage age) without engaging in marital vow. He went further to identify some other ones who engage in so-called “sexually alternatives” such as fondling their sex organs (masturbation). Gelana (2009) stated that in Ethiopia, 60% of pregnancies which emanated from premarital sex are unwanted or unintended and thus endanger the life of the expectant youth who become mothers by accident. In a study of Kenya’s population, Kiragu and Zabin (1993) reported that a lot of Kenyan youth engage in premarital sex and the behaviour is on the increase. The proportion of young people who are sexually experienced by age 15 and 18 years old in Nigeria in 2008 showed significant variations between male and female. Where 5.7% male of age 15 have had sex the female population was 15.7%. At age 18, the statistics showed that 25.6% of males have had sex but the females’ proportion was 49.3%, which is remarkably higher than their male counterparts (Adeyemi, 2013). The reasons for the variation could be numerous ranging from biological (maturation), social, cultural to psychological. Many factors account for premarital sex, youthful age itself is a stage of human life that is characterized by accelerated development in different parts of the body. In particular, the unprecedented growth and development of sex organs and the attendant heightened emotion as correlate are enough significant factors that may predispose youth to premarital sex. Different studies identified different factors that may dispose young persons to premarital sex. In Thailand and Philippines, family structure was associated with premarital sex; youths living with single parent have higher rate of premarital sexual activities than those living with both parents (Stewart, Sebastiani & Lopez, 2001).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to a critical analysis of the causes of premarital sex among undergraduate students.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information a critical analysis of the causes of premarital sex among undergraduate students 200 students of university of Benin were selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain a critical analysis of the causes of premarital sex among undergraduate students.
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations are made, which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefit in addressing the challenges of premarital sex among undergraduate students.
Summary
This study aimed at having a critical analysis of the causes of premarital sex among undergraduate students. Three objectives were raised. These objectives include: To assessment of the causes of premarital sex among undergraduate students of the University of Benin, determine the effect of premarital sex and possible suggestions for preventing or curbing this menace, to investigate the magnitude of premarital sexual practice and predisposing factors among unmarried undergraduate students in University of Benin.
Conclusion
Based on the above findings pertaining to the objectives of the study the following conclusions are drawn.
The interesting findings from this research study suggest that understanding young people’s attitudes and behaviours towards sex and morality is a complex topic with many layers of analysis. The study identified a number of factors responsible for the existence of pre-marital sex among students on campus. Economic reasons were the most significant factors. Economic reasons include the need for money, materialism and other valued objects like GSM. The study has revealed that most parents do not provide enough money to pay for school fees, buy reading materials and finance personal needs like feeding, cosmetics, and clothes. The study showed that 69% of respondents posited that students engage in one form of pre-marital sex or the other for economic reasons. Money in particular is very much needed by students to enable them sustain a high social status.
Recommendation
- Counselors should constantly be in contact with the youths to educate them on sexuality and how best to manage their sexual feelings without necessarily engaging in premarital sex. Counselors should help to enlighten adolescents on healthy peer friendship to discourage bad influence.
- Health educators should rise to the challenge of organizing enlightenment activities in schools in order to provide adequate reproductive health information to students and parents.
- Also, parents should endeavour to provide the necessary materials for their children in order to discourage commercial (premarital) sex among in-school adolescents. Parents should ensure that useful pieces of information on sexuality are provided for adolescents at home in order guide against been influenced by destructive information from friends and media.
REFERENCES
- Abdullahi, S.A. (2004). Our Families, Their values, And Our Responsibilities, Some Insight into the Disintegration of Family Values in Hausa Society. A Paper Presented at Pace Forum. Kano, Mambayya House, 2004.
- Abraham, L., Kumar, K.A. (1999). Sexual experiences and their correlates. Family Planning Perspectives: 25(3) 129 – 142.
- Adegoke, A.A. (2012). Adolescents in Africa: The role of context and process in developmental trajectories. The 99th inaugural lecture of University of Ilorin.
- Ajiboye, S.K. (2006). Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS as perceived by religious leaders in Kwara State. Unpublished M.Ed Research, University of Ilorin.
- Arumala, A.A. (2005). Value re-orientation; a need among adolescent secondary school students in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. The Counsellor. 21(2).
- Barker, G.K. Rich, S. (1992). Influence of sexuality on adolescent in Nigeria and Kenya: Findings from recent FGD. Family Planning; 23(3).
- Bender, D. and Leone, B. (1995). Sexual Values Opposing View Points. San [)iego: Green Haven Press.
- Burns, M.A. (1970). Students Activism in America Higher Educaüon. Washington: America College Personal Association Press.
