PREMARIT

AL SEX
 ?????????
WHAT ARE THE
FACTORS WHY
MOST TEENS
ENGAGE IN
PREMARITAL
 PARENT
S

SOCIAL PREMARITAL PEERS

INSTITUTIO
SEX
N

YOUTH
CULTURE
PARENT
S
 Attitudes initially formed at home and
so parental models and Teachings are
important.
 Psychological literature reveals the
profound influence that parents have
on the lives of their children. Parents
are the primary socializers of their
children.
PARENT
S
 The education level and work
experience of the parents may
influence attitudes and present
opportunities for sexual activity if
parents are away.
 Marital and child rearing behaviour of
parents provide and support role
models for young people.
PEERS
 Behaviour of peers have little impact
on young children - but importance of
peers shifts at adolescence.

Peer influence and positive or

negative pressure can be through:

 peer information
 peer attitudes
 peer behaviour
PEERS
 Studies show in Adolescent sexual
activity

Peers have 70-73% of influence,

Mothers have 33-37% influence
Fathers have 15% influence
 Perceived attitudes and values of
significant others have important
effect on shaping intention.
YOUTH CULTURE

 Sets of beliefs: fashions,

leisure, music influenced by:
 print, media, definitions of female
femininity and desirability, definitions
of maleness, lyrics, etc.

 Perceptions of peers about sexual

experiences.
YOUTH CULTURE

 Adult models of sexual

behaviour
 Parents are not the only role models;
other adults in society

 How changing adult sexual norms

affect the youth is unknown
YOUTH CULTURE

 Media models of sexual

behaviour

Movies and videos reinforcing

roles and messages -
 women as passive victims
 women as sexual beings
 women as play things
SOCIAL INSTITUTION
 School
 have an important role to play in informing young
people and providing a forum for values exploration
and clarification about sex

 school based sex education policy and

implementation

 whether sex education per se without supportive

services translates to behaviour change is less
clear
- prefer to turn to peers for info
- do not trust teachers’ knowledge or discretion
SOCIAL INSTITUTION
 Religion
Religiosity is negatively related to
premarital sexual behaviour. Sexual
conservation is greater among religious
youth
 consequence of religious values
 association of youth with similar
values
 may be other sources of values
SOCIAL INSTITUTION
 The Law
Laws that deal with adolescent sexual
expression relate mainly to:

 age of consent laws for sexual

intercourse and medical interventions

 laws on homosexuality
 ?????????
WHY DO WE
HAVE TO BE
INFORMED AND
TO STUDY
 RATIONALE FOR ADDRESSING
PREMARITAL SEX ON ADOLESCENTS
 Number of Adolescents
adolescents aged 10-19 constitute
approximately 20% of the world population
AND half of all individuals are younger than 25

 The fertility level for this age group is

decreasing but decreasing more slowly than
for other age groups resulting in an
increasing proportion of births being to
adolescent mothers

 Pregnant adolescents resort to abortion

more often than pregnant women of other
age groups
 ?????????
WHAT ARE THE
RISK FACTORS
OF PREMARITAL
SEX TO US?
RISK FACTORS OF PREMARITAL SEX TO
ADOLESCENTS
Psychosocial Risks

 the period during which sexual and reproductive health

issues are added to the health concerns of the individual
 adolescents not knowledgeable about sexuality and
reproduction
 abstinence not encouraged
 healthy and responsible sexual and reproductive
behaviour not discussed
 sexual and reproductive risk-taking not discussed
RISK FACTORS OF PREMARITAL SEX TO
ADOLESCENTS
Early Pregnancy Risks

 neo-natal mortality levels are higher

 infant mortality are higher
 an increase in the age of marriage
 no decrease in sexual activity
 a greater risk of adolescent girls becoming pregnant
outside of marriage
 social stigma prevent pregnant adolescent girls from
obtaining early prenatal care
RISK FACTORS OF PREMARITAL SEX TO
ADOLESCENTS
 Abortion Risks

 lack of information on contraception

 the cost of health services
 lack of confidentiality
 limited access to safe services
 delay in realising or admitting to the
pregnancy
RISK FACTORS OF PREMARITAL SEX TO
ADOLESCENTS
 STD Risks

 most susceptible to STDs due to

physiological and social factors
 5% of all adolescents contract an STD
 half of those infected with HIV are
younger than 25
 less developed physiological barriers
towards infection
 young women’s low decision-making
power
RISK FACTORS OF PREMARITAL SEX TO
ADOLESCENTS
 Abortion Risks

 lack of information on contraception

 the cost of health services
 lack of confidentiality
 limited access to safe services
 delay in realising or admitting to the
pregnancy
PREMARIT
AL SEX