Assessment of Premarital Sex, Causes among Undergraduates of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Undergraduates who engage in pre-marital sex inside and outside the 
school campuses are on the increase every day. This study investigates 
assessment of pre-marital sex, and causes among undergraduates of 
the University of Ilorin. The purpose of the study was to assess 
whether peer group influence, mass media or poverty causes 
premarital sex among undergraduates in the University of Ilorin. The 
descriptive research design of survey type was used for the study. The 
population of the study comprised of all undergraduates resident in 
school halls within the University of Ilorin. A multi-stage sampling technique which comprises of simple, proportionate and convenience 
sampling procedures were used to select two hundred and thirty (230) 
respondents out of seven hundred and ten undergraduates resident in 
the hostels as participants in the study. Researchers structured 
questionnaire was used. The reliability of the instrument established 
through test-retest method. The coefficient obtained was r = 0.83. 
Inferential statistics of chi-square was used to test the hypotheses 
developed for the study at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of 
the study indicated that peer group influence, mass media and poverty 
are major causes for pre-marital sex (92.83 > 21.03, 90.57 > 21.03 
and 88.14 >21.03). The researchers concluded that peer group 
influence, mass media and poverty are major factors responsible for 
premarital sex among undergraduates in the University of Ilorin. The 
researchers recommend that the government should improve the 
economic condition of Nigerian citizens by provision of sufficient funds 
for education/facilities in all Nigerian secondary and tertiary 
institutions to reduce the financial problem faced by students in 
schools due to low financial support from their parents.