The Extent of Premarital Sex Practices among Secondary Schools Adolescents in Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed at determining the extent of premarital sex practices among secondary school adolescents in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Its objectives were to reveal the extent at which secondary school students engage in premarital sex in the area and how such practices can propel risky behaviors among them. Study Design: The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Methodology: Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 844 secondary school adolescents for the study. Information was retrieved from the field through questionnaire administration. Means and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while the chi-square statistical tool was used in testing the null hypotheses in the study. Results: The result showed that the premarital sex in the study was at low extent with the grand mean score x̅=2.26. However, the result indicated that 16% of the students engage in penetrative virginal sex, anal sex, oral sex and masturbation whereas 84% of the students do not. Recommendation: The study recommended among others that: All the head teachers and principals should play an active role by coming up with awareness program through seminar, rallies with strong guidance on dangers associated with premarital sex. Also, parents should always discus sex education with their children to be adequately informed with the right information about sex and the behaviour to adopt as they grow to puberty period to avoid engaging in premarital sexual practice at this early stage.