Parent-Adolescent Sexuality Communication in the African Context: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Abstract

Introduction Young people constitute a critical mass in Africa south of the Sahara (SSA) yet lack adequate information on sexuality education essential for their health and development. Objectives Guided by two sociological perspectives on socialization, that is, structural functionalism and conflict perspective, our study had 2 aims: 1) to identify and analyze studies investigating parent-adolescent sexuality communication (ie, triggers/contents) and 2) to identify and discuss barriers to sexuality-related communication between parents and adolescents. Methods The scoping review was conducted according to the Arksey and O'Malley framework and used PRISMA reporting guidelines for scoping reviews. We searched three databases (Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar) for relevant articles published in English in the last decade -2011 to 2021 and analyzed the data using a qualitative content analysis approach. Results A total of 1045 studies were identified. After abstract review, we identified 58 papers, and after full-text review, 16 studies were included in the final review. Aim 1a) Discussions of sexuality-related conversations were triggered by parents/caretakers due to pubertal/physical changes and adolescents’ "inapt" behaviors (eg, engaging in sex). Aim 1b) Our results showed that contents of sexuality education de-emphasized/avoided sensitive sexuality-related topics (such as condom use/contraception) that did not fit within the sociocultural norms/expectations, characterized by threats, cautions, and wrought with moralistic and religious views that evaded practical information regarding sex, contraception, and other critical sexual information. Aim 2: Two themes emerged as barriers that impede sexuality-related discussions, including whose responsibility it is to discuss sexuality-issues with adolescents and the gender differences/discordance of parent-adolescent dyads. Conclusion Sexuality education for adolescents in SSA is not comprehensive due to structured power relations. Thus, parent-adolescent sexuality communication falls short of the value of sexuality education for young people for whom accurate and complete sexual health information is critical for making informed decisions as they emerge into adulthood.

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“…These constraints could lead to de-emphasising and avoidance of sensitive sexuality-related topics which denies adolescents critical information on sex, condom use and contraception. 20 …”