Existing Practicies of Parent-child Communication on Sex-related Matters among Households in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Adolescents' sexual and reproductive health remain global public health concerns particularly in Sub-Saharan. Undoubtedly, parent-child communication remains a vital means by which parents transmit cultural values and monitor the sexual health of their children. The nature and the quality of sexual conversations that subsist in the family are critical factors in the prevention of sexual risk-taking behaviour among adolescents. Therefore, this paper investigated the existing practices of parent-child communication on sex-related matters among households in Ondo State among the triads of parents and their adolescent children and the implications for adolescents’ sexual health in Ondo State, Nigeria. The study elicited data from 483 respondents comprising fathers, mothers and their adolescents; through a multi-stage sampling technique. First, the study found that for most of the respondents (fathers 56.5%, mothers 54.7% and adolescents 60.2%) sexual conversations are occasional; second, mothers often initiate sex-related discussion with children more than fathers; third, sexual conversations are generally not open and receptive; fourth, content of parent-child sexual communication chiefly centre on admonitions against premarital sex; fifth, mothers discuss more sexual topics with the adolescent children than fathers. Sixth, discussion about contraceptive with adolescents is a topic which majority of households in the state avoid. Lastly, many parents still have inhibitions discussing sex-related issues with adolescents. There's need for interventions that target parents enlightenment and education and addressing cultural norms that impede parent-child sexual conversations; in order to reposition families for parent-child communication that is open, receptive, sequential and time sensitive; conversations about sexual development and decision-making that enhance adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

Related factors to HIV/AIDS prevention behavior of adolescents in Jakarta’s high school

“…In addition, mothers are considered appropriate initiators to discuss sexual topics with their adolescent children. Male and female adolescents perceive a mother as their primary source of communication to discuss sexuality [57], [58].…”

Situational context of home-based sexual education in urban slums of Ibadan, Nigeria–evidence from a qualitative study

“…However, the conversation continues to focus more and more on abstinence, sometimes laced with cultural and religious biases [ 18 , 19 , 31 ], without reflecting the contemporary reality of adolescents about sexual issues. Additionally, a number of factors or barriers that prevent effective parent-child discussions about SRH have been examined in research conducted in Ghana [ 27 , 32 – 34 ], Ethiopia [ 15 , 19 , 35 , 36 ], Kenya [ 29 ], South Africa [ 37 , 38 ], and Nigeria [ 8 , 28 , 30 ]. Even though these studies have demonstrated some effects, there is little empirical evidence about the situational context of parent-adolescent communication regarding SRH issues in urban slums.…”

“…In the United States, a large body of literature has shown the positive effect of parent-adolescent communication on sexual issues [23][24][25][26]. Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) suggests that parent-child dialogue on SRH issues is becoming more common [8,14,[27][28][29][30]. However, the conversation continues to focus more and more on abstinence, sometimes laced with cultural and religious biases [18,19,31], without reflecting the contemporary reality of adolescents about sexual issues.…”