Dr Grace Onyejekwe, Cynthia Chimairo Ezeogu & Dr Eric Isaac Shockden
Abstract
This study investigated premarital and multiple sex partners’ behaviours among in-school female adolescents. The study used pretest-posttest experimental control research design with a population of 84 in-school senior secondary school II female adolescents screened and found with high sexual risk-taking behaviours in a public secondary school in Imo State. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were employed to sample 74 participants (experimental group = 37 and control group = 37). Validated Sexual Risk- Taking Behaviour Screening Questionnaire (SRTBSQ, r= 0.83) and Female Students’ Sexual Risk-taking Behaviour Questionnaire (FSSRBQ, α = 0.72) were used for data collection. The participants in both groups were pre-tested and post-tested; while the experimental group received Social Skills Training, the control group received normal lesson in English Language. Mean, standard deviation, and t-test were used for data analysis. The results indicated, among others, a significant difference between the experimental and control groups on post-test mean scores of premarital and multiple sex partners behaviours. It was concluded that SST significantly reduced premarital and multiple sex partners’ behaviours. The study recommended the integration and application of SST into secondary school curriculum, to help curtail high incidences of premarital and multiple sex partners’ behaviours among adolescents.