Unplanned pregnancy

This study investigated the causes and effects of premarital sex among undergraduate students in the University of Benin. In recent years, premarital sexual activities have become increasingly common among young people, particularly university students who are exposed to diverse social, cultural, and academic pressures. This growing trend raises concerns due to its potential implications on students’ health, emotional wellbeing, and academic performance. The study therefore sought to identify the major factors that influence students to engage in premarital sex and to examine its consequences on their overall adjustment within the university environment. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The target population consisted of 270 undergraduate students residing in Ekosodin Community, from which the sample was selected. A structured questionnaire was the principal instrument for data collection, and it was validated by experts in measurement and evaluation. The reliability of the instrument was confirmed through statistical analysis. Data collected were analyzed using mean to answer
the research question, while simple linear regression and independent sample t-test were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that premarital sex among undergraduates is influenced by multiple factors such as peer group pressure, curiosity and the desire for sexual experimentation, exposure to media and internet content, lack of
comprehensive sex education, family background and parenting style, socioeconomic challenges, and the influence of alcohol and drug use. Furthermore, the study established that premarital sexual activities have far reaching effects, including poor academic performance, health risks such as sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies, emotional and
psychological distress, social stigma, and long-term relationship difficulties. Based on these findings, the study recommends that parents, educators, school counsellors, and policy makers intensify efforts toward providing comprehensive sexual education both at home and in schools. It also recommends strengthening counselling services within the university to help students cope with emotional and psychological challenges. Creating awareness programmed that discourage risky sexual behavior and promoting value-based education among youths were also suggested as measures to reduce the prevalence of premarital sex among undergraduate students.