ABSTRACT
This study
investigated “Sexual Immorality among Christian Female Students in Secondary
Schools in Kogi State.” The involvement of teenagers, adolescents, youths and
students in sexual immorality has become a serious problem and concern to
parents, religious leaders, school authorities, government in particular and
the society in general. The population of this study comprised of secondary
school students and teachers in Kogi state. A total of seven hundred and fifty
(750) respondents were selected as sample for this study. The sample size of students
selected was four hundred (400) while the sample size of teachers selected was
three hundred and fifty (350) randomly sampled across the three senatorial
districts in Kogi state. The objectives of this study is to find out the causes
of and effects perceived sexual immorality among Christian female students and
to suggest possible ways of minimizing it. To achieve this purpose, a
questionnaire containing four sections was developed and standardized. The
questionnaire was structured based on the research questions, hypotheses and
objectives. T-test was used in the analysis of the data, major findings
observed in this study revealed that sexual immorality among Christian female
students is caused by factors such as parental negligence, poverty, influence from
peer group and watching of immoral video films. The study revealed that the
effects of sexual immorality among Christian female students include unwanted
pregnancy, abortions and spread of sexually transmitted diseases. In
conclusions, parents/guardians should take special interest in curbing moral
decadence among their female children, failure of which, will contribute
negatively on their female children. The recommendations given include
parents/guardians should keep a close watch on the type of friends their
daughters keep and video films they watch at home. The government should
improve the economy and censor magazines and video films that are immorals.
LIST OF TABLES
Tables Page
3.1 Population of the Study – –
– – – – 32
3.2 Sample of Schools and Students
– – – – –
33
3.3 Selected Sample of Teachers – – – –
– – 33
4.2.1 Distribution of the Respondents according to their Sex – – –
37
4.2.2 Distribution
of the Respondents according to
their Age
Range – – – – –
– – 38
4.2.3Respondent’s Opinion on the Causes
of
Sexual
Immorality among Christian Female Students
– – –
39
4.2.4 Respondents
Opinion on the Effects of Sexual
Immorality
among Christian Female Students – –
– 41
4.2.5 Respondents Opinion on possible ways of
minimizing the problem of sexual
immorality among Christian
female
students – – – –
– – – 42
4.6 Showing Independent t-test
statistics between male and female
students on causes of sexual immorality
among
Christian female students – –
– – – 45
4.7 Showing Independent t-test
statistics for significant difference in
the opinion of teachers and students on
the effect
of immorality among Christian female students
– – 46
4.8 Showing Independent t-test
statistics for significant difference
between the views of the teachers and students
on possible
ways of minimizing sexual immorality among
Christian
female students – – – –
– – 46
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page – – – –
– – – – –
i
Declaration – – – –
– – – – –
– ii
Certification – – –
– – – – –
– iii
Dedication – – –
– – – – –
– iv
Acknowledgements – –
– – – – –
– v
Abstract –
– – – – –
– – – vi
List of Tables – – – – – – – – – vii
Table of Contents – – – – – – – –
viii
CHAPTER
1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study – –
– – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem
– – – – –
– 2
1.3 Objectives of the Study – –
– – – – 3
1.4 Research Questions – – –
– – – – 4
1.5 Hypotheses – –
– – – – –
– 4
1.6 Significance of the Study
– – – – –
– 4
1.7 Scope and Delimitation of the Study – –
– – – 5
1.8 Basic Assumptions – –
– – – – –
5
CHAPTER
2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction – – –
– – – – –
6
2.2 Concept of Morality – – –
– – – – 6
2.3 Concept of Immorality – –
– – – – 8
2.4 Concept of Sex –
– – – – –
– 9
2.5 Concept of
Sexual Immorality – –
– – – 9
2.6 Old Testament Teaching on Sexual Immorality –
– – 11
2.7 New Testament Teaching on Sexual Immorality – – –
12
2.8 Causes of Immorality in the Society – – – – –
14
2.9 Effects of Immorality in the Society – –
– – – 24
2.10 Empirical Studies – –
– – – – –
27
2.11 Summary – – —
– – – – –
30
CHAPTER
3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction – – – – – – – –
31
3.2 Research Design – – –
– – – – 31
3.3 Population of the Study – –
– – – – 31
3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques – – – – – –
32
3.5 Instrumentation –
– – – – –
– 34
3.5.1 Validity of the Instrument – –
– – – – 34
3.5.2 Pilot Study – –
– – – – –
– 35
3.5.3 Reliability of the Instrument
– – – –
– – 35
3.6 Administration of Questionnaire
– – – – –
36
3.7 Method of Data Analysis – – – – – – 36
CHAPTER
4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 37
4.2 Demographic Data of the Respondents –
– – – 37
4.2.3 Cause of Sexual
Immorality among Christian Female Students in
Secondary Schools in Kogi State – –
– – – 39
4.2.4 The
Effects of Sexual Immorality among Christian Female Students 41
4.3 Test of Hypotheses
– – – – – – – 45
4.4 Summary of Major Findings – – – – – – 47
4.5 Discussion of the Findings – – – – – – 48
CHAPTER
5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – – 52
5.2 Conclusions – – – – – – – – 53
5.3 Recommendations – – – – – – – 54
5.4
Suggestions for Further Research
– – – – – 55
References
– – – – – – – – 56
Appendix A – – – – – – – – 62
Appendix B – – – – – – – – 63
Appendix C
– – – – – – – – 67
Appendix
D – –
– – – – –
– 68
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Background to the
Study
At
the secondary school level, most female students are at the adolescent
stage, a developmental period which
can decide a person’s current and future health. This is because it is at this
time that individuals begin to make independent decisions about health-risk and
health-enhancing behaviour. According to Cha (2005), Physiological,
psychological and cognitive changes associated with sexual dispositions are
experienced during this period. Thus, it is not unusual for adolescents to have
the physical characteristics of adults in early adolescence and yet have the
limited psychological, social and cognitive development consistent with
childhood. Risky premarital sexual behaviour, one of the major problems of
adolescence, is a result of the developmental characteristics of adolescence.
No other single
age group sustains the negative health outcomes from their sexual behaviour as
the adolescents. Adolescent girls contribute 55% of all clandestine abortions
in the country, and the national HIV sero-prevalence figure for age 15-19 years
is 3.6%
(Bankole,
Oye-Adeniran, Singh, Adewole, Sedgh and Hussain, 2006 and Fatusi and Blum,
2008).Sexual immorality is an area which many people find strange because it is
one of the most complex and most controversial areas to venture into in
contemporary times. Many people would think of the discussion on sexual
immorality as a taboo that culture or custom forbids. Adults in the community
frown at sexual immorality because it is a taboo and it brings shame to the
family and relations of girls who happen to be victims of the act.
What is most
astonishing is that in Kogi state, Christian female students in secondary
schools cannot be isolated from this contagion affecting adolescents. Sexual
immorality among Christian female students in Kogi state secondary schools is a
menace in the society. According to Omotunde (1987) the adults have created the
conditions for the spread of sexual immorality by exposing the youths to
temptations. This they do by selling pornographic films, books and sexually
suggestive music which materials stimulate adolescents’ curiosity and engender
their ability to experiment on what they see, read and hear.
Coupled with the
enhanced biological growth resulting from the chemicals from food crops,
secondary school girls consider themselves adults capable of all sexual
requirements. Often, the religious and cultural restraints are ignored.
According to Adeola (2011), “there are many school girls out there who are
going through difficult and horrible situations either because they did not
know the problem or they thought the situation was not going to be that
terrible. For many of the girls who are caught up in sexual immorality, it has
been just a game of daring the impossible after knowing well that the horrors
of falling into it are enormous”. This study, therefore, tries to find out the
main causes of sexual immorality among Christian female students in secondary
schools in Kogi state.
1.2 Statement of the
Problem
There are many outcries against sexual
immorality in the Nigerian society today. The involvement of teenagers,
adolescents, youths and students in sexual immorality has become a serious
problem and concern to parents, religious leaders, school authorities,
government in particular and the society in general. Christian female students
in secondary schools cannot be isolated from this contagion affecting
adolescents. Parents can no longer speak for or trust their daughters as not
being involved. The level of sexual immorality among some Christian female
students has highly increased. Schools have become a comfortable place for
sexual immorality for some female students. Wearing of seductive attires has
become fashionable among teenagers. At the secondary school level, the virtue
of virginity is becoming unthinkable, old fashion and abominable. Virginity
among Christian female students is not as common as it was in years past.
Today, some Christian female students are deflowered at a very young age. Some
of them have become pregnant and have eventually dropped out of school; some of
them have opted for abortion and in the process have either lost their lives or
have their wombs damaged. Also, some of them have contracted deadly sexually
transmitted diseases. How can this scourge be reduced such that Christian
female students will abide by their religious injunctions? This among others
are what this study is set out to investigate towards making some suggestions
for reducing the effects of the sexual scourge among Christian female students
in secondary schools in Kogi state.
1.3 Objectives of the
study
This research aims at examining “Sexual
Immorality Among Christian Female Students in Secondary Schools in Kogi State.”
The study seeks to achieve its aims through the following objectives which
are:
1.
To find out the causes of sexual immorality among
Christian female students in secondary schools in Kogi State.
2.
To find out the effects of sexual immorality on
Christian female students in secondary schools in Kogi State.
3. To
suggest possible ways of minimizing sexual immorality among Christian female
students in secondary schools in Kogi State.
1.4 Research Questions
1.
What are the causes of sexual immorality among
Christian female students in secondary
schools in Kogi State?
2.
What are the effects of sexual immorality on Christian
female students in secondary schools in Kogi State?
3.
What are the possible ways of minimizing sexual
immorality among Christian female students in secondary schools in Kogi State?
1.5 Hypotheses
1.
There is no significant difference between male and
female Christian students opinion on the causes of sexual immorality among
Christian female students in secondary
schools in Kogi state.
2.
There is no significant difference in the opinion of
teachers and students on the effects of sexual immorality among Christian
female students in secondary schools in Kogi state.
3.
There is no significant difference between the views of
teachers and students on possible ways of minimizing sexual immorality among
Christian female students in secondary schools in Kogi State.
1.6 Significance of the
Study
The study would help to enlighten the female
students in secondary schools on the causes and effects of sexual immorality.
The idea will be used to dissuade them from such behavioural patterns.
The study would help the families to perform
their roles to their children effectively, train them in the way of the Lord
and make adequate provision to meet up their basic needs.
The study would help
the schools not to have a loose administration where
students will
be free to do what they like. The schools will enforce strict discipline and
engage the students with one activity or the other. When the students are
engaged properly they will not have time to misbehave.
They study would help the ministries of
Education to strengthen the inspectorate and monitoring unit to supervise
schools and organize seminar for the students
1.7 Scope and Delimitation
of the Study
This research work focuses mainly on the
causes and effects of sexual immorality. It concentrates on Christian female
students in secondary schools in Kogi state. The study would have been carried
out in all the secondary schools in Kogi State but was restricted to senior
secondary schools.
1.8 Basic Assumptions
This research work is based on the following assumptions:
1.
That sexual immorality is on the increase among
Christian female students in secondary schools in Kogi State.
2.
That school authorities understand the implications of
sexual immorality in relation to the academic and moral development of their
students.
3.
That Christian female students in secondary schools are
ignorant of the effects of sexual immorality.
4.
That sexual immorality is now common as a way of life
in this modern day civilization.