Abstract:
Premarital sex and adolescent pregnancy are among challenges to
development. Globally Tanzania is among countries with highest rates of
adolescent pregnancies having 44% of women become pregnant at teen age
accounting for 40% of school dropouts. Despite provision of sex education in
schools, the problem still persists with little information about its influence
on adolescents’ sexual behavior. This study, therefore, intended to identify
and describe the influence of sex education on adolescents’ involvement in
premarital sex and adolescent pregnancies in Arusha City, Tanzania. The
study population comprised adolescents aged 14-24 years. Descriptive
survey, and purposive and snow ball sampling were employed. A pilot study
was conducted to ensure validity and reliability of the study. Data collection
was through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, key informant
interviews and documentary review with interview schedules and
discussion checklists as instruments. Content analysis was used based on the
objectives. The major findings were as follows; majority of the adolescents
engage in sexual practices with multiple partners. Sex education guides
adolescents to avoid premarital sex and reproduction but is also a factor in
influencing adolescents’ engagement in sexual acts. Based on the findings,
the study recommends: government to ensure effective sex education by
training teachers on the subject matter, providing appropriate instructional
resources, making sex education a compulsory and independent subject for
all students, schools to establish guidance and counseling sessions and work
with stake holders to integrate moral values among adolescents, through reintroduction and improvement of religious classes and other curricula
activities
