Factors Associated With Parent-Adolescent Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues in Urban Slums of Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, adolescents in urban slums are increasingly at risk of adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. However, little is known about how individual factors predict parent-adolescent communication on SRH issues in a resource-poor urban setting in Ibadan. Thus, this study investigated individual factors associated with parent-adolescent communication on SRH issues in urban slums of Ibadan, southwest, Nigeria. This study is part of a larger project that explores the socio-ecological factors influencing parent-adolescent communication on SRH issues in selected slums in Ibadan, Nigeria. Within this broader framework, this paper relies on the quantitative data obtained in 10 selected slums. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire [scripted on open data kits (ODK)] was utilized to collect data from a sample of 796 parent-adolescent dyads. Six SRH topics were investigated to describe the issues discussed. Analytical techniques utilized include; frequency counts, chi-square, and multinomial logistic regression. Parent-adolescent communication regarding SRH issues is not uncommon in urban slums of Ibadan but characterized by indirect communication, threat and warning. Parents and adolescents’ age, gender, marital/relationship status, educational attainments and religion played influential role in parent-adolescent communication regarding SRH issues. These factors were identified to be significantly associated with the pattern of parent-adolescent discussion of SRH issues. Age-specific SRH education should be available to adolescents and parents need to be educated on appropriate SRH information and the best way to engage their adolescents on SRH issues.

Parent-adolescent Communication About Contraceptives and Its Associated Factors in Bahir Dar City, North West, Ethiopia, 2022

“…Adolescents who were within the age group (15-19) years were 1.6 times more likely likely to communicate with their parents about contraceptives than adolescent who were in the age group (10)(11)(12)(13)(14). This is in line with study done in Nigeria (34).…”

“…Where as in this study both early and late adolescent were participated. Again this nding is lower than study done in Netherland (47.5%), China (35%), Nigeria (50.2%) and Gambia (42.2%) (34)(35)(36)(37). The possible explanation for this discrepancy may be due socioeconomic differences and culture related to openness of contraceptives discussion.…”

Parent-Adolescent Communication About Reproductive Health Issues in Nigeria

“…Any parent who scores 43 and above was assumed to use a direct communication while a lower score below 43 indicated an indirect communication pattern. The measurement of direct, indirect, and no communication has been reported earlier in a previous study (Aliyu & Aransiola, 2021). Thus, the following explanation was derived from the authors’ study.…”

“…No communication: this was seen as the lack of or non-existence of communication about SRH issues between parents and adolescents, either directly or indirectly, especially when the parent-adolescent dyad both replied ''No'' to SRH communication (Aliyu & Aransiola, 2021).…”

“…Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents (Parents and Adolescents). The socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants have been described in the Aliyu & Aransiola (2021) study. The study engaged a total sample of 796 parent-adolescent dyads (Table 1).…”