Abstract:

The issue of premarital cohabitation and pre-marital sexual behaviours among undergraduates in Nigeria has attracted a lot of attentions among scholars, researchers and policy makers. This study therefore examined the relationship between premarital cohabitation and pre-marital sexual behaviours among undergraduates in Nigerian Universities. Ninety two undergraduates were randomly selected from four public universities in Ogun and Lagos states. This sample was made up of forty eight males (52%) and forty four females (48%). Sixty one of selected samples had involved in cohabitation sometimes or presently cohabitating. This represented two-third of the total sample. All the selected undergraduates were unmarried with mean age of 21.6years, minimum age of 18years and maximum of 24years. There is a significant difference in the age of first sexual intercourse between cohabitating undergraduates and non-cohabitating undergraduates (mean difference of 7years, t=14.83, p= 0.0001). It was concluded that there was high prevalence of cohabitation among undergraduates and high incidence of pre-marital sexual behaviour. It was suggested that parents should ensure that they know and secure accommodation for their children in Nigerian Universities if they cannot insist on hostel facility provided by the school. Government and proprietors of universities should ensure to provide avoidable hostel facility.