A recent study by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has revealed a significant rise in cohabitation among university students residing in private hostels.
This trend, characterised by living together and engaging in sexual relationships without marriage, is growing due to the increased freedom offered by these private accommodations, compared to the more regulated university halls.
The research also indicates that some students cohabit for economic reasons, pooling resources to share rental costs. While most students view cohabitation negatively, a small number see it as enjoyable and normal.
Additionally, the study highlights that this cohabitation trend is linked to higher rates of teenage pregnancy and child marriage.
Professor Georgina Yaa Oduro, Head of the Sociology and Anthropology Department at UCC, presented these findings at a workshop aimed at combating child marriage and gender-based violence.
The workshop, organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, was designed to enhance the understanding of traditional council registrars from eight regional houses of chiefs and the National House of Chiefs about these issues.
“If you are on campus and in the halls, you have the hall masters, tutors, and the hall council to control you. In the girls’ hostels, for example, guys cannot visit the halls after 10:00 PM,” Prof. Oduro said.
“But in the private hostels, comparatively, you have the freedom to do whatever you want.”
Professor Georgina Yaa Oduro from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) reported concerning findings from her study on cohabitation among university students in private hostels.
She revealed that students involved in these relationships are taking on all the responsibilities of married couples, including sexual activities and domestic chores such as cooking, cleaning, and managing finances.
The study highlighted that female students, in particular, are struggling to balance their academic responsibilities with the demands of these domestic roles, leading to missed or delayed lectures and negatively impacting their studies.
Furthermore, the study found that cohabitation among students often involves gender-based violence, including coerced sex, forced abortions, and frequent arguments, largely due to the unregulated nature of these relationships.
Professor Oduro shared a tragic case of a 22-year-old UCC student who took his own life this year following a dispute with his cohabiting partner.
She noted that many of these relationships dissolve after graduation and expressed concern over the lack of focus on this issue.
Professor Oduro called for a united effort from stakeholders—parents, educators, school administrators, and community and religious leaders—to address these challenges.
She also voiced alarm over the misuse of emergency contraceptives among young women and advised against their overuse.