Chapter 1 Premarital Sex

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

A world without premarital sex would lessen sexually transmitted disease (STDs), there would be no unwed mothers, and there would be reduced causes of unwanted pregnancies and abortion. The above rightly capture the concern which premarital sex has generated among policy makers, researchers and even religious leaders. The rise in premarital sex in Africa has resulted from a sexual revolution that came with western culture (Scott, 2006). Sex in southwest Nigeria before now was regarded as sacred and limited only to adult males and females within marriage (Alo, 2008). Public opinion polls have consistently shown that premarital sex is wrong and dangerous to health, resulting in abortions, teenage mothers and sexually transmitted infections (Aaron, 2006; Finer, 2007).Nigeria is a relatively culturally conservative country; the topic of sex is still considered a taboo between parents and children. A child learns through the mass media and peers unguided. Children learn the important topic of sex education in negative manners, rather than having proper sex socialization at home or in schools. Premarital cohabitation has been reported as a common phenomenon among Nigerian University undergraduates (Alo, 2008). Cohabitation of opposite sex is a predisposing factor to the initiation of sexual activities. Premarital sex is not confined to teens alone, a good number of people who are not married, are also vulnerable to premarital sex. This is evidenced by the large number of unintended/unwanted pregnancies many of which get terminated in back street clinics (Alo, 2008), the high rate of sexual transmitted infections among the 15-24 years old, and the increasing number of girls dropping out of schools due to unintended/unwanted pregnancies. Over half of all new HIV infections worldwide (6,000 a day) occur among those between 15 and 24 years of age (Yvan, 2000). The worst hit among this age bracket are the female population. Females are particularly vulnerable to a host of problems related to premarital sex. Women have certain physical peculiarities that increase the risk of infection: the vaginal surface exposed to semen is large and semen, have greater concentration of HIV than vaginal fluid (AIDS, 2002). In addition, women social role, also increase the vulnerability to STDs/HIV especially in African south of Sahara, this is due to unequal power relationship and economic dependence which limit access to adequate information and hinder the adoption and maintenance of safe behaviour. In fact, the consequences of premarital sex, STDs (as well as HIV) are higher for females than for males. When a young girl becomes pregnant, she places herself and her unborn child at further risk. Because, a young girl’s body may not have developed to the point of being able to handle childbirth safely. Even if a teen mother escapes severe health consequences, she must still face the serious responsibilities of parenthood. This is aside the fact that she drops out of school and except in rare cases she may never go back to school again (Alo, 2008). The society is becoming freer in many different ways so that premarital sex is becoming more ‘ordinary’. May be in certain sense premarital sex is not wrong, but premarital sex seems to be causing many social disturbances such as disorderly household and more corruption of public morals. Throughout the world, most young people have had sex before they reach 19years of age. There are some other ones who engage in so called “sexual alternatives”, such as fondly one’s sexual organs (mutual masturbation). A disturbing report in the New York Times reveals that “Oral Sex” has become a common place initiation into sexual activity, widely perceived by many young people as less intimate and less risky than intercourse (Scott, 2006).Premarital sexual activity is not a recent occurrence worldwide. Research indicates that as far back as 1950’s, the phenomena have attracted public attention both in the United Kingdom and United States of America (Teenage pregnancy, 2007). For example, in 1954 a study in Manchester revealed that between the years 1937 and 1954 almost a quarter of underage girls coming to the attention of a certain female police officer regarding underage sex, were pregnant. It was also noted that the girls came from a particular background, either broken homes or of bad parental influence (Teenage pregnancy, 2007). Finer (2007), examining trends in premarital sex in USA concluded that premarital sex is not surprising in an era when men and women typically marry in their mid to late twenties and they are sexually active as singles for extensive periods. Sex was reported by Finer to be nearly universal in USA by age 30, but also very common at younger ages.From a study conducted in India, Krishmen (2006) reported that premarital sex is rising among youths in rural India where the rate exceeds that of the urban areas. He went further that while access to sex education was far less in rural areas, rural youth were twice as likely as urban youth to have had premarital sex. In Turkey, Mehmet (2006) concluded that among the background variables considered; mother’s education, age, ethnicity and employment status were among the most important predictors of attitudes towards women premarital sexual activity. However, Allen (2003) had earlier reported that several polls have indicated peer pressure as a significant sexual activity predictor, while on the contrary, sexually inducing drugs and alcohol have been identified as factors which may encourage unintended sexual activities (UNICEF, 2001; Leonard, 2005). Other factors associated with premarital sex include number of siblings, possession of future partner by teens, literacy, urban residents, religion, the breakdown of traditional family system, influence of mass media, curiosity, peer influence, expectation of gift and money, force, a measure of friction between respondent’s parents, living arrangements and school location, incomplete, inadequate and unappreciated feelings; gender, substance use and staying with single parents (Kiragu and Zabin, 1995; Zanel, 1998; Blanc and Way, 1998; Djamba, 2003; Ghuman, Huy and Knode, 2006; Lee et al, 2006; Ramesh and Tgotsne, 2009). In sub-Saharan Africa, investigation of premarital sexual activity tend to merely document levels of sexual activity, numbers and ages of sexual partners, knowledge and use of contraceptives. A few of these studies have attempted to explain the behavior in a systematic fashion.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Arising from the background the study seeks to generate the following research questions: What are the factors contributing to premarital sex among undergraduates?

How do peer groups influence premarital sex?

How do teenagers perceive pre-marital sex?

Does premarital sex leads to the incidence of increased sexually transmitted diseases?

1.2RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

HYPOTHESIS 1
H_0 There is no significant relationship between socio-economic conditions or factors and premarital sex.
H_1 There is a significant relationship between socio-economic conditions or factors and premarital sex.

HYPOTHESIS 2
H_0 There is no significant relationship between peers groups influence on premarital sex on undergraduates.
H_1 There is a significant relationship between peers groups influence on premarital sex on undergraduates.

HYPOTHESIS 3
H_0 There is no significant relationship between the incidences of increased sexually transmitted diseases and premarital sex among undergraduates.
H_1 There is a significant relationship between the incidences of increased sexually transmitted diseases and premarital sex among undergraduates.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
The major objective of the study investigates pre-marital sex among undergraduates student of the University of Ibadan. Other specific objectives are:

To investigate the factor responsible for premarital sex on undergraduates.

To critically examine the impacts of peers groups influence on premarital sex on undergraduates students.

To ascertain the perception of students about pre-marital sex

To examine whether premarital sex leads to the incidence of increased sexually transmitted diseases among undergraduates.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

Causes of school dropout among teenage girls, occasioned by unwanted pregnancies, abandon babies are death of youths have been on the increase in recent times in many parts of Nigeria. if the tide is not changed, not only will the future of the youth become deviated, several social problem such as escalation of hiv/aids scourge, delinquent behaviour arising from abandon children will hinder the development prospect of the nation. The findings of this study will no doubt expose the course; effects of premarital sex among undergraduates in Nigerian university .The recommendations will aid the reduction of the social problem

1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study shall be conducted among the undergraduate student of the university of Ibadan Oyo state. Every other segment of the university community are not included in the study

1.6 REFERENCES

Aaron, N.G. (2006). Premarital sex: whose burden? Retrieved January 2008 from http://www.singaporeangle.com.

AIDS (2002).Boletinepidemiologico.Ministerio da Sande.

Allen, C. (2003). Peer pressure and teen. Sex Psychology today. Retrieved April, 2009 from

Alo, O.A. (2008). Socioeconomic determinants of unintended pregnancies among Yoruba Women of Southwest Nigeria.International Journal of Sustainable Development. Vol.1 (4), 145-154.

Blank, A.K. and Way, A.A. (1998). Sexual behaviours and Contraceptive knowledge and use among adolescents in developing countries. Studies in Family Planning. Vol. 29(2), 106-116.

Djamba, V.K. (2003). Social capital and premarital activity in Africa: The case of Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of Congo. Archives of Sexual Behaviours, Vol.32 (4), 327-337.

Finer, L.B. (2007).Trends in Premarital Sex in the United States, 1954-2003, Public Health Reports. Vol.112 (6), 29-36.

Ghuman, S., Huy, V. T. and Knodel, J. (2006). Continuity and change in premarital sex in Vietnam. International Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 32(4), 10-18.

Krishmen, A. (2006). Premarital growth, but not awareness. The Hindu, online edition of India’s national newspaper, 10-11.

Kiragu, K. L. and Zabin, S. (1995). Contraceptive use among high school students. Kenya. International Family Planning Perspectives. Vol. 21(3), 108-113.

Lee, K., Chen, P.C.Y., Lee, K.K. and Kaur, J. (2006). Premarital sexual intercourse among adolescents in Malaysia: a cross sectional Malaysian school survey. Singapore Medical Journal. Vol. 47 (6), 476-481.

Mehmet, A.E. (2006). Social determinants of attitudes towards women premarital sexuality among female Turkish university students. Turkey: Towson University

Scott C. (2006). Premarital Sex: almost everyone’s is doing it. New York: MMVI, The Associated Press.

Teenage Pregnancy.(2007). Wikipedia.Retrieved August 2009 from http://www.wikipedia.com/pdf/pregnancy.pdf, 2.

UNICEF (2001).A league table teenage births in rich nations. Innocent Report Card No. 3. UNICEF Innocent Research Centre, Florence. Retrieved July 2008 from http://wwwunicef-ire.org/publications/pdf/reportcard3e.pdf.

Wahare, L., Kiragu, K. and Zabin, L. (1999). The correlates of premarital sex among school age adolescents in Kenya. International Family Planning Perspectives. Vol. 9 (1), 92-109.

Yvan, J. A. (2000). What is wrong with premarital sex? Retrieved September 2009 from http://www.watchtowers.org/e/20047229article_01.htm.

Zanele, M, (1998). Teenage Contraceptive needs in Urban South Africa: A case study. International Family Planning Perspectives. Vol. 24(4), 180-183.

References: Aaron, N.G. (2006). Premarital sex: whose burden? Retrieved January 2008 from http://www.singaporeangle.com. AIDS (2002).Boletinepidemiologico.Ministerio da Sande. Allen, C. (2003). Peer pressure and teen. Sex Psychology today. Retrieved April, 2009 from Alo, O.A Blank, A.K. and Way, A.A. (1998). Sexual behaviours and Contraceptive knowledge and use among adolescents in developing countries. Studies in Family Planning. Vol. 29(2), 106-116. Djamba, V.K. (2003). Social capital and premarital activity in Africa: The case of Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of Congo. Archives of Sexual Behaviours, Vol.32 (4), 327-337. Finer, L.B. (2007).Trends in Premarital Sex in the United States, 1954-2003, Public Health Reports. Vol.112 (6), 29-36. Ghuman, S., Huy, V. T. and Knodel, J. (2006). Continuity and change in premarital sex in Vietnam. International Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 32(4), 10-18. Krishmen, A. (2006). Premarital growth, but not awareness. The Hindu, online edition of India’s national newspaper, 10-11. Kiragu, K. L. and Zabin, S. (1995). Contraceptive use among high school students. Kenya. International Family Planning Perspectives. Vol. 21(3), 108-113. Lee, K., Chen, P.C.Y., Lee, K.K. and Kaur, J. (2006). Premarital sexual intercourse among adolescents in Malaysia: a cross sectional Malaysian school survey. Singapore Medical Journal. Vol. 47 (6), 476-481. Mehmet, A.E. (2006). Social determinants of attitudes towards women premarital sexuality among female Turkish university students. Turkey: Towson University Scott C Teenage Pregnancy.(2007). Wikipedia.Retrieved August 2009 from http://www.wikipedia.com/pdf/pregnancy.pdf, 2. UNICEF (2001).A league table teenage births in rich nations. Innocent Report Card No. 3. UNICEF Innocent Research Centre, Florence. Retrieved July 2008 from http://wwwunicef-ire.org/publications/pdf/reportcard3e.pdf. Wahare, L., Kiragu, K. and Zabin, L. (1999). The correlates of premarital sex among school age adolescents in Kenya. International Family Planning Perspectives. Vol. 9 (1), 92-109. Yvan, J. A. (2000). What is wrong with premarital sex? Retrieved September 2009 from http://www.watchtowers.org/e/20047229article_01.htm. Zanele, M, (1998). Teenage Contraceptive needs in Urban South Africa: A case study. International Family Planning Perspectives. Vol. 24(4), 180-183.