Factors Influencing Teenagers to Engage in Premarital Sex

Abstract

This study investigated the factors influencing teenagers to engage in premarital sex at AlC Huruma. The data of this study was collected through openended questions interview method with fifteen informants. The responses were later recorded and analyzed. The outcome of this study shows that youth perceived that sex was for the married couples. However, they practiced premarital sex due to some of the factors that influenced them as seen in the study. The study indicates that the major influencing factor in the premarital sex is peer pressure among others. The data analysis in this research was that youth's interest on premarital sex is influenced by peer pressure, lack of sex education, physical body changes, television, and low economic standards whether the youth are Christian or not Christian. Therefore, the theory that emerged from the data is that the youth consciously understood premarital sex depending on the level of interest of the factors that influenced them. The study revealed that the youth practiced sex at one point in life and so they need a lot of guidance, direction and counseling which ideally is supposed to be determined by the church. There should be a proper policy on youth curriculum. Recommendations to this study were made to show that the church has a great responsibility on the lives of teenagers. There is need to have intensive teachings and training of the youth on different issues of life. The church, counselors, and teachers should design a holistic curriculum for the youth particularly in the area of their unique needs.