Assessment of Effect of Peer Pressure and Mass Media on Secondary School Students Involvement in Premarital Sex in Anambra State of Nigeria

Pre-marital sex among secondary school adolescents has been identified to be on the increase worldwide. Adolescents are susceptible to peer pressure. This study was conducted to determine the effect of peer group pressure and mass media on the prevalence of pre-marital sex among secondary school adolescents in Anambra State of Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among secondary school adolescents in Anambra State. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured, self-administered questionnaire. Respondents were selected using a multistage sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection in the study was the Secondary Student Sex Variables Questionnaire (SSSVQ) which was constructed by the researchers. Students who had medium extent exposure to mass media or more (≥ ME) were 3 times or less (≤ LE) [or: 3.153, (CI: 2.270-4.380)]. Respondents who had medium extent exposure to peer pressure or more (≥ ME) were twice more likely to engage in pre-marital sex than those who had low extent exposure or less (≤ LE) [or: 2.240, (CI: 1.601-3.134), p = 0.030]. This study revealed that the prevalence of pre-marital sex among secondary school students in Anambra State was high. It is concluded that the peer pressure and exposure to mass media influenced pre-marital sex and it was recommended that family health education should be intensified in secondary schools to enable the students understand problems of pre-marital sex.