Premarital Sexual Behaviour and its Impact on Health among Adolescents

Abstract

More than two-thirds of young people in developed nations have sexual intercourse while still in their teens. The most vulnerable group of premarital sexual behaviour are youths and adolescents. The aim of the study is to assess factors affecting premarital sex behaviours among adolescents and its impact on health. This study is based on the review of secondary information published by the relevant organization and authors in Nepal and beyond. Study materials were primarily identified searching through Electronic databases and Software bases. Age group of 10-19 called as adolescents during the period, there is drastic development in physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. There are multidimensional factors that leads to premarital sexual behaviour. Parent relationship withtheir children and family environment, societal environment, cultural and traditional rules and values, economic condition, school environment, peer's relationship, love and affairs, communications (mobiles, internet-pone movies etc.) and rules and regulation are the risk factors that affect in premarital sexual behaviour of the adolescents. Sex after marriage is fruitful but having a premarital sex with mutual understanding with full protection is not a big issue. Unwanted pregnancy, teenage pregnancy, abortion, STIs, HIV/AIDS, regrets, guilt, loss of self-respect, depression, loss of family support, substance abuse and even suicidal death are the health impact of premarital sexual behaviour among adolescents.

Premarital Sexual Behaviours among Secondary School Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study in Kathmandu

“…Gubhaju (2002) argued that poor wealth status of family, increased urbanization, migration and exposure to mass media have collectively contributed to major changes in social and sexual behaviour among the adolescents in the Asia and Pacific Region. Shrestha (2019) argued that parenting and family and societal environment, cultural and traditional values, economic condition, school environment, peer influence, love affairs, social media are conducive factors for premarital sex. Further, Hayward (2019) added that the religion of the adolescents influences their attitudes, perception and behaviours towards the sexual behaviours.…”

<p>Does Youth-Friendly Service Intervention Reduce Risky Sexual Behavior in Unmarried Adolescents? A Comparative Study in West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia</p>

“…In previous research, risky sexual behavior has been measured with the notion that having premarital sex with full protection is not a big problem. 8 Respondents who had had their sexual debut before age 15 years were not considered a risky group (though they are actually risky). Our finding was consistent with other studies conducted in northern Ethiopia (22.6%) and Wollega (25.3%).…”

“…Adolescents who engaged in conversations about sexrelated topics with their parents were less likely to report being sexually experienced, reported fewer lifetime sex partners, and were more likely to report using condoms. 8,40,64 The importance of parent-adolescent communication on adolescent sexual behavior has been well described in different kinds of literature. Parents are the first socializing agents for their children, and one of the key areas of socialization is communication on SRH issues.…”

“…7 Risky sexual behavior among adolescents have direct and indirect impact on social and economic well-being, such as an increase in maternal and infant mortality, school dropouts, HIV/AIDS prevalence, substance abuse, and suicidal deaths. 8 Every year, an estimated 23 million adolescents become pregnant: half of it is unplanned and ending in unsafe abortion. [9][10][11] Early childbearing is linked with higher maternal morbidity, which leads to intergenerational cycles of ill health and poverty, as well as higher maternal mortality.…”

“…A number of studies in Ethiopia [35][36][37] and other countries 8,[38][39][40] assessing the sexual behavior of adolescents have reported that parent-adolescent communication has a significant role in reducing adolescents' risky sexual behavior. Adolescents with good parental communication regarding SRH issues were more likely to engage in safe sexual behavior, including abstinence, 8,35,36 delaying first sexual intercourse, fewer lifetime sexual partners, and using condoms, 35,38,39 and less likely to experience teenage pregnancy. 37 This study elucidates whether YFS programs or parent-adolescent communication are important in explaining adolescents' sexual behavior.…”