Attitude Towards Premarital Sex among Rural College Youth in Maharashtra,India |
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Authors: | Mohan Ghule Donta Balaiah Beena Joshi |
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Institution: | (1) National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, Maharashtra, India |
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Abstract: | Little is known about the risky sexual behaviour, misconceptions and attitudes regarding sexuality and sexual health among
rural youth in India. In order to understand these aspects, quantitative data were collected among 1,500 rural college students
(800 male and 700 female) in the age group 15–24 years in the Thane district of Maharashtra, India, during 2004. Analysis
of variance and regression analysis were performed using the total mean score of attitude towards sexuality as the dependent
variable to determine the association and relationship, respectively, with background and familial characteristics. The results
clearly showed that the majority of the students in the study expressed conservative attitudes towards premarital sexuality.
Many students not only disagreed with casual sex but also considered it immoral. Gender bias i.e. permitting premarital sex
for males and not for females, was reflected in their attitudes to some extent. Mean score indicated that male students had
higher mean scores compared with their female counterparts and senior students compared with junior students, indicating more
liberal attitudes towards sexuality. Bivariate analysis showed positive association between age; peer interaction; erotic
exposure; habits of gutaka, tobacco, smoking and alcohol consumption; and knowledge about reproductive health issues with
attitudes towards various sexuality issues. Multivariate analysis showed that female students studying in the commerce and
science faculties were more liberal in attitude towards sexuality when compared with female students from the arts faculty.
Male students with high erotic exposure (odds ratio 2.3); habits of gutaka, tobacco, smoking and alcohol consumption (odds
ratio 2.7); and high peer interaction (odds ratio 2.3) had higher attitudinal scores indicated more liberal attitudes. Overall,
the majority of the students expressed conservative attitudes towards premarital sex. The programme on sexuality education
and responsibility for in-school adolescents should be launched early in secondary schools/college at an early stage of the
perception process and formulation of attitudes towards sexuality. This would provide students with more scientific information
and deter them from gathering incomplete information through sources such as pornography and peers. |
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Keywords: | Rural India College youth Sexuality attitude |
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