KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH IMPLICATIONS AND PRE-MARITAL SEX AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN IKEDURU L.G.A., IMO STATE

Abstract

The study examined the knowledge and health implications pre-marital sex among in-school-adolescents in Ikeduru L.G.A. of Imo State. The study adopted-descriptive survey design. A total of 378 respondents drawn from the total population of 3549 students in the government secondary schools in Ikeduru L.G.A. Four research questions guided the study. the instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled HIPMSAQ “Health Implications of Premarital Sex and Adolescents Questionnaire”. This was validated by experts in Psychology, Sociology and Measurement and Evaluation (HIPMSAQ). To test the reliability of the instrument, Pearsons' Product Moment Correlation Statistics was use and a reliability index of 0.86 was obtained. Data collected was analyzed using mean statistics and the findings revealed among others that: adolescents are highly engaged in premarital sex because their attitude toward it is positive, peer influence, poverty, indecent dressing, parenting styles and failure to provide for the children were causes of premarital sex; also peer group influence leads to academic laxity. Based on the above findings, it was recommended among others that healthy awareness on sexuality should be giving, counselling service on the youth should be provided, sex education should be included in the curriculum, health care workers and health educators should be encourage to reach out to the youths. Adolescents should be properly guided by parents and teachers.