Attitude on Premarital Sex, Marriage and Family Size among Adolescents in Pokhara Valley

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to assess the attitude on premarital sex, marriage and family size among school going adolescents in Pokhara valley in 2006. The study included 400 students carried out from 170 from 8 government schools and 230 from 8 private schools of the classes X, XI, and XII of the Pokhara valley. The self administered questionnaire prepared in Nepali method was applied for collecting information from randomly selected students in each selected school. Out of total, 57.5 % students were boys and 91% were in age group of 15-18 years. About two-fifths (41%) of the students did not agree with the statement that “premarital sex is not good”. This attitude was higher in boys than girls (46% versus 34%) and in government school students than private school students (57% versus 33%). More than half (62%) students preferred arranged marriage, and it comprised 73% of girls and 53% of boys. Almost all of the students (97%) were of the opinion that a couple should not have more than two children. Of total, 85% of the students’ preferred to have one son. The preference of a son is slightly higher in girls (87%) than in boys (84%). About half of the students (53%) were aware that biologically male is responsible for the sex of the child. This knowledge was higher in the boys (54%) and those studying in government school (58%) than girl students (51%) and private school students (50%). This concludes that male were more liberal towards premarital sex, self arranged marriage, sex preference than girls.

Key words: Attitude, Premarital Sex, Marriage, Adolescents, Family Size