Home Economics / Home Management · Lesson 3

Boy–girl relationships, courtship, marriage, sex education, STIs, HIV and family planning

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: Courtship and Marriage (types of marriage; boy/girl relationship; healthy guidelines; problems; consequences of indiscriminate sexual indulgence; sex education; choosing a life partner incl. blood group, genotype, HIV status; dating, courtship, engagement; preparation for marriage; ceremonies in different localities). JAMB Home Economics B4 (Marriage/sex education, family planning, reproductive…

WAEC: Courtship and Marriage (types of marriage; boy/girl relationship; healthy guidelines; problems; consequences of indiscriminate sexual indulgence; sex education; choosing a life partner incl. blood group, genotype, HIV status; dating, courtship, engagement; preparation for marriage; ceremonies in different localities). JAMB Home Economics B4 (Marriage/sex education, family planning, reproductive…

NECO: Courtship and Marriage (types of marriage; boy/girl relationship; healthy guidelines; problems; consequences of indiscriminate sexual indulgence; sex education; choosing a life partner incl. blood group, genotype, HIV status; dating, courtship, engagement; preparation for marriage; ceremonies in different localities). JAMB Home Economics B4 (Marriage/sex education, family planning, reproductive…

What you will learn

Describe healthy and unhealthy boy–girl relationships.
State consequences of indiscriminate sexual activity.
Explain the meaning, sources and importance of sex education.
Distinguish dating, courtship and engagement.
Explain factors in choosing a partner, including genotype and blood group.
Describe types of marriage in Nigeria and preparation for marriage.
Describe common STIs, HIV and their prevention.
Explain family planning and its methods.

Key points

Healthy relationships: groups, openness, respect, abstinence.
Careless sex: STIs, pregnancy, abortion, VVF, drop-out, stigma.
Sex education: facts and values from parents, school, religion, health workers.
Dating, courtship, engagement precede marriage.
Partner choice: character, religion, health, maturity, income.
AS × AS: 1/4 SS each pregnancy; AA × SS: all AS.
Rhesus-negative mothers: anti-D prevents newborn haemolytic disease.
Marriage: statutory (monogamous), customary, Islamic, church; minimum age 18 (CRA 2003).
STIs: gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, herpes, HPV, HBV, HIV.
HIV: sex, blood, sharp objects, mother to child; ART and PMTCT.
Family planning benefits mother, child, family, nation; many methods.

Start here: Boy–girl relationships

A boy–girl relationship is the friendship or interaction between young males and females. It is a normal part of adolescence, when interest in the opposite sex develops with puberty. Healthy relationships teach cooperation, respect and social skills; unhealthy ones can lead to heartbreak, academic failure, unwanted pregnancy and infection.

Traditional and customary views

In many Nigerian cultures, boy–girl relationships were traditionally supervised by families. Young people met at markets, festivals, moonlight plays or farm work, usually in groups. Families often investigated the other family’s background (health, character, history) before allowing a serious relationship. In Islamic and many Christian homes, private meetings between unmarried young people are discouraged. These customs aimed to protect young people and their family names.

Guidelines for a healthy boy–girl relationship

Keep friendships in groups and in public places, especially in the early teens.
Be open with parents or guardians about your friends.
Respect each other’s values, body and right to say “no”.
Avoid isolated places, late outings and alcohol or drugs.
Keep academic and personal goals first.
Practise abstinence from sex: it is the only 100% protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Communicate honestly; do not deceive or manipulate.
Seek advice from trusted adults: parents, teachers, counsellors, religious leaders.

Problems of unhealthy boy–girl relationships

Pressure for sex, leading to unwanted pregnancy.
Sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Unsafe abortion, which can cause infertility or death.
School drop-out and loss of goals.
Emotional trauma, depression, low self-esteem.
Violence, stalking and sexual exploitation (including by older “sugar daddies” or “sugar mummies”).
Family disgrace and conflict.

Peer pressure

Friends may mock a student for not having a boyfriend or girlfriend. Assertiveness skills help: say “no” clearly, give a reason if you wish, walk away, and choose friends who share your values.

Continue this lesson in the free app →

Practice questions

1. For two AS parents, the chance that a child is SS is

Show answer

A: 1/4
Each pregnancy: 1/4 AA, 1/2 AS, 1/4 SS.

2. AA × SS parents will have children who are

all SS
half AA
1/4 SS
all AS

Show answer

D: all AS
Each child gets A from one parent and S from the other.

3. AS × SS parents: the chance that a child is SS is

Show answer

C: 1/2
Half AS, half SS.

4. A man of group A (IᴬIᴼ) and a woman of group B (IᴮIᴼ) can have children of groups

O only
AB, A, B and O
A and B only
AB only

Show answer

B: AB, A, B and O
Each has a 1/4 chance.

5. Anti-D is given to protect babies of mothers who are

Rhesus negative
Rhesus positive
blood group O
genotype AS

Show answer

A: Rhesus negative
It prevents haemolytic disease of the newborn.

Key words

Abstinence: Choosing not to have sex.
Courtship: Period of getting to know an intended spouse.
Engagement: Formal agreement to marry.
Genotype: Genetic make-up for a trait, e.g. AA, AS, SS.
Carrier: Person with one abnormal gene, e.g. AS.
Rhesus factor: Blood protein; negative mother may need anti-D.
Statutory marriage: Monogamous marriage under the Marriage Act.
Customary marriage: Marriage by ethnic custom; may be polygamous.
Mahr: Dower paid to the bride in Islamic marriage.
Bride price: Gifts or payment to the bride’s family.
STI: Infection spread mainly by sexual contact.
HIV: Virus that attacks the immune system.

Learn Boy–girl relationships, courtship, marriage, sex education, STIs, HIV and family planning step by step, free.
The Cara's Tips app teaches every topic from the very basics, with quick checks, worked examples and exam practice. It works offline.
Open this lesson in the free app Download for Android