Causes and Consequences of Premarital Sex among Secondary School Students in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State

This study was carried out to examine the causes and consequences of premarital sex among secondary school students in the Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State. Specifically, the study examined the factors responsible for secondary school student’s involvement in pre-marital sex and also evaluated the effects of premarital sex. Lastly, the study recommends solutions. The study employed the descriptive survey design, from the responses obtained and analyzed, the findings revealed that pressure, economic reasons, and parental influence are some of the causes of pre-marital sex among secondary school students. Also, some of the effects of pre-marital sex among secondary school students are unplanned pregnancy, school dropout, and Poor academic performance. Lastly, some of the ways to curb pre-marital sex among secondary school students are that parents should provide the necessary materials for their children to discourage premarital sex, health educators should work in collaboration with the curriculum designers in the secondary school education and Sensitization on the effect of pre-marital sex. The study thereby recommends that parents should ensure that useful pieces of information on sexuality are provided for adolescents at home to guide them against being influenced by destructive information from friends and media.