Dusty discos and dangerous desires: community perceptions of adolescent sexual and reproductive health risks and vulnerability and the potential role of parents in rural Mwanza, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper presents villagers' assessments of young people's sexual and reproductive health vulnerability and of community-based interventions that may reduce both vulnerability and risk in rural Mwanza, Tanzania. The primary methods used were 28 group discussions and 18 in-depth interviews with representatives of various social groups in four villages. The majority of participants attributed young people's sexual and reproductive health risks to a combination of modernisation (and its impact on family and community life), socioeconomic conditions, social norms in rural/lakeshore communities and the difficulties parents and other adults face in raising adolescents in contemporary Tanzania. Community life has limited opportunities for positive development but contains many risky situations. Young and old agreed that parents have a strong influence on young people's health but are failing in their parental responsibility. Parents acknowledged the multiple influences on sexual risk behaviour. They expressed a need for knowledge and skills related to parenting so that they can address these influences both through family- and community-based strategies.

Old ideals and new realities: the changing context of young people's partnerships in Cebu, Philippines

“…As described in our qualitative findings and studies from this and other settings, dating behaviors of adolescents differ greatly from that of previous generations (Gastardo-Conaco et al 2003; Medina 2001; Remes et al 2010). Formal courtship and the emphasis on meeting one another’s parents have shifted to more informal and casual encounters and through outings with friends.…”

Women's reproductive health in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

“…Girls in Yakutia generally lack information about family planning, sexuality and modern methods of contraception, similar to findings from other studies (122). Increasingly, the Internet should be considered an important source of information for teenage girls (123).…”

Adolescent experiences of HIV and sexual health communication with parents and caregivers in Soweto, South Africa

“…Research has shown that factors influencing the presumed effect of parent -adolescent communication on adolescent sexual behaviours include communication style, content, frequency, sex/age of adolescent and timing (Eisenberg, Sieving, Bearinger, Swain & Resnick 2005). Furthermore, studies have shown that cross-sex (father -daughter and mother-son) and cross-generation differences in communication exist (Crosby, DiClemente, Wingood, Cobb, Harrington & Davies 2001;Remes, Renju, Nyalali, Medard, Kimaryo, Changalucha, et al 2010;Wamoyi et al 2010). In particular, mothers are more commonly cited as the primary parent involved in sexual communication and have discussions more frequently with daughters than with sons (Guzmán, Schlehofer-Sutton, Villanueva, Dello Stritto, Casad, & Feria 2003;Hutchinson, Jemmott, Jemmott, Braverman & Fong 2003).…”