Consequences Of Premarital Sexual Activities Among Secondary School Students
[A CASE STUDY OF ILORIN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KWARA STATE]

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
    The rate of sexual irresponsibility especially among youth seem to be on the increase. Adeoye (2006) asserted that modern day Nigerian have made sex one of the most discussed subject, however, our forefathers pretended as if sex does no exist by placing some taboos on it. Where as, modern Nigerians pretend that nothing else exists other than sex. Increasing rate in teenage and youth sexual activities can be sustained by numerous reports of unwanted pregnancies, illegal abortion and dumping of unwanted babies.
    The present time can be described as a period of “sex explosion” in which youths are enjoying unprecedented ‘sex boom” and ‘sex escapades (Achiwizies 1990) further emphasized that sex is commonly practiced and no more a big deal. This is why it happens anywhere be it in the office, under a tree, inside the car or even in the classroom. It could emphatically be said that youth of nowadays engage in premarital sexual activities with limited knowledge of what is involved and its consequences.
    In pursuit of education, students leave their homes for school and are no longer under the strict supervision of their parents. Most of them get exposed to modern lifestyle more than ever and due to peer group influence, they engage in premarital sexual affairs which they regard as due marks of civilization.
    Since every child in secondary school is believed to be teenager and classified as adolescent, therefore interest and conception had been that adolescence is a period of intense. Importance of purity before marriage is fast dying out in Nigeria. Adolescents were viewed across cultural and social boundaries and the outcome is likely to exhibit similar behaviour. Gwander (2001) rightly pointed out that the meaning of sex to various people depends upon the social context in which it develops. Adolescents are changing in their attitude towards sexual behaviour especially attitudes of adolescents today and those adolescents of twenty or thirty years ago, there will be a significant distinction. Adolescents of today seem to value sexual activities more than their counterparts of yester years. Adolescents on the other hand see sex as a way of behaving like adults and exercising themselves to explore and understanding their own bodies.
    Hyzer (2001) holds that adolescents of age 17 to 18 years are termed to have reached reproductive maturity. This is about the time the adolescent become intellectually mature and set their future goals. But situation is changing gradually with our adolescents. Nowadays sexual maturity and unset of sexual interest precede the intellectual maturity. One also has the feelings that since the advent of various contraceptives, there has been an increasing pressure on youths especially females to be involved in casual sex.
    One of the factors that enhance “sexual revolution” is social change and modernization which is associated with educational opportunities, increase in the percentage of sexual activities among females especially unmarried adolescents, delay age at marriage and relaxation of traditional family’s emphasis on virginity. The consequences of the gender sexual behaviour include: premature pregnancy, abortion, venereal diseases, early marriage, HIV/AIDs infection and premature death.    
    Some adolescents found adult sanction against their sexuality difficult because they see their behaviour as fashion and act of socialization. Providing authentic sex information through counselling and sex education is an aspect that ought to engage society’s attention.