Parent-child sexual and reproductive health communication among very young adolescents in Korogocho informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Background Parents are an important source of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information for very young adolescents and are likely to have a significant influence on adolescents’ sexual attitudes, values, and risk-related beliefs. This study explored the nature and content of parent-child communication about SRH issues. Methods Thirty-two parents and 30 adolescent boys and girls aged between 11 and 13 years participated in narrative interviews in a resource-poor urban setting in Nairobi, Kenya. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English, and uploaded on Atlas.ti software for coding and analysis. Results Findings from the study show gender differences in parent-child communication. More girls than boys reported that they had talked with their parents about romantic relationships. Four approaches—no communication, fear-based communication, supportive communication, and involving an external person were used by parents in SRH communication. Parents hostile attitudes towards romantic relationships during adolescence discouraged adolescents from disclosing their relationship status. While communication did occur, it was mainly reactive, one-sided, and authoritarian, often initiated by parents. Conclusions Parents need to be empowered with adequate and factual SRH information and effective communication strategies to enhance communication with very young adolescents. There is a need for further research to identify the most effective parent-child communication approaches to improve SRH outcomes among adolescents.

Sexual health knowledge acquisition processes among very young adolescent girls in rural Malawi: Implications for sexual and reproductive health programs

“…For example, a VYA who is sexually active and seeking knowledge on how to protect herself from a negative SH consequence is unlikely to approach her parents or elder relatives if they had previously discouraged sexual relationships. This finding is in line with that of a study conducted among VYAs in Kenya where adolescents were discouraged from revealing their sexual or romantic connections because they were afraid of negative parental reactions if they disclosed their engagement or interest in romantic partnerships (50).…”

How do adolescents navigate COVID-19 information, and why does it matter?

“…Boys, on the other hand, demonstrated an increased perceived severity and thought the 24-hour news medium was increasing their stress. In previous literature, sources of information for girls include parents and internet [ 23 , 24 ]. Burnout due to information overload from social media, specifically in relation to COVID-19, has also been documented within the literature but differences by sex have not been investigated [ 12 - 14 ].…”

Which communication technology is effective for promoting reproductive health? Television, radio, and mobile phones in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Researchers found that caregiver-to-patient and parent-to-child communication, in particular, hold the greatest potential in helping women making informed decisions about their health [ 12 , 13 ] and fostering contraceptive use [ 14 ]. However, these communication venues might be impractical when cultural norms and taboos within families are a barrier to effective communication [ 12 , 15 ]. In these situations, passive communication technologies, like TV or radio, or active communication technologies, like mobile phones, act as enablers or alternative sources of information, especially for younger people [ 16 , 17 ].…”