Relationship between adolescents’ family function with socio-demographic characteristics and behaviour risk factors in a primary care facility

Abstract

BackgroundThe family as a unit of care has great effect in tackling adolescent problems and this could be influenced by family functioning.ObjectiveThis study assesses the relationship between adolescents’ family functioning with socio-demographic characteristics and behavioural risk factors.MethodThe research was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study carried out at the General Outpatients Department, University College Hospital (GOPD, UCH), Ibadan, over a period of three months. Four hundred subjects were recruited using a modified Guideline for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS) questionnaire, with an incorporated family APGAR (Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, Resolve) score table. The results were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 11 and the findings on the family assessment and behavioural risk factors were relayed to the respondents.ResultsThe ages of the adolescents ranged from 10 to 19 years. Of the subjects, 8% were sexually active. Mean age for first coitus among the respondents was 15 ± 2.4 years. The rate of ingestion of alcohol and cigarette smoking was very low. The family APGAR scores obtained revealed that 84.5% subjects were rated as having a functional family (7–10 points) and 15.5% of the subjects were rated as having a dysfunctional family (0–6 points). There was a significant association between perceived family function and subjects’ occupation (p = 0.01), parent social class (p = 0.00) and subjects’ sexual activities (p = 0.00).ConclusionThe majority of the adolescents were rated as having functional families. Dysfunctional families had significantly sexually active respondents.

A Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Family Structure and Health Risk Behaviours Amongst Young People: An African Perspective

“…Literature has indicated that family processes fully accounted for the higher levels of delinquency exhibited by adolescents from singlefather versus single-mother families [41]. It has been reported that dysfunctional families had significantly more sexually active respondents [17]. We note that dysfunctional families are not necessarily linked to family structure, but to the family processes where roles and responsibilities become unclear and thwarted.…”

“…Studies explored parental involvement [10,11], parental communication [12] parental monitoring [13], family processes [14], family health and dysfunction [15] family function [16] family interventions [17] and family structure [18]. For the purposes of this article the focus will be on family structure and the authors recognise that family structure is not static [19].…”

High-Risk behaviors and their relationship with demographic characteristic in girl and boy adolescents

“…Also study in Shiraz assessed effects of family factors on girl's adolescent runaway which showed that the highest rate runaway was in the age group of 15 to 18 year [23]. [5]. Studies about structure of family showed that life with parents protects of adolescents engaging in risky sexual behavior [5,25,29].…”

“…[5]. Studies about structure of family showed that life with parents protects of adolescents engaging in risky sexual behavior [5,25,29]. Also result of Zarei's study showed that neglectful and strict parenting style provides the background for increasing of high-risk behaviors.…”

“…Hence, health behaviors in adolescences are important because several of death and disease in adolescence has been associated with high-risk behaviors [4]. Adolescence is also important phase of transition from period under parental control to the independence [5]. As, important of adolescent in heath and development society, it is important investigated of risk behaviors in adolescence and youth in particular in for high school students [6].…”