Influence of Pre-marital Sex on Academic Performance among Public Secondary School Female Students in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.

This study examined the influence of pre-marital sex on the academic performance of public secondary school girls in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by increasing concerns over declining academic performance, school dropout, and health-related challenges among female adolescents, which have been linked to early sexual engagement. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 200 female students from selected public secondary schools, from which a sample of 133 respondents was determined using the Yamane (1967) sample size formula. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire designed on a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to answer the research questions, while inferential statistics, specifically Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), were employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed a notable prevalence of pre-marital sexual activity among the respondents. The perceived causes of pre-marital sex included peer influence, exposure to pornography, curiosity and experimentation, drug and alcohol use, financial pressure, low self-esteem, and changing societal values, all of which recorded mean scores above the criterion mean. The perceived consequences identified were poor academic performance, exposure to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy, school dropout, social stigma, and psychological challenges such as depression. Hypotheses testing indicated a strong and significant negative relationship between the perceived causes of pre-marital sex and academic performance (r = −0.62, p < 0.05), as well as between perceived consequences of pre-marital sex and academic performance (r = −0.57, p < 0.05). The study concludes that pre-marital sexual behavior has a significant negative influence on the academic performance of public secondary school girls in Otukpo Local Government Area. It recommends the implementation of comprehensive, culturally sensitive sexuality education, strengthened parent child communication, school-based counseling services, and supportive policies aimed at promoting academic focus and healthy adolescent development.