Exploring issues in caregivers and parent communication of sexual and reproductive health matters with adolescents in Ebonyi state, Nigeria

Mbachu, Chinyere; Agu, Ifunanya Clara; Eze, Irene Ifeyinwa; Agu, Chibuike; Ezenwaka, Uchenna; Ezumah, Nkoli; Onwujekwe, Obinna

doi:10.1186/s12889-019-8058-5

Cited by 50 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…In B-GAP we found that older adolescents (16-18 years) were less likely to be tested when compared to children aged 2-5 years (under review). As highlighted by this and previous studies, engaging adolescents is challenging and index-linked testing may expose sexual activity of adolescents to their caregivers [27,28]. As highlighted by caregivers, respecting adolescents' autonomy and approaching them directly and then their caregivers for consent may be more appropriate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Addressing the Challenges and Relational Aspects of Index-Linked HIV testing for Children and Adolescents: Insights From The B-GAP Study in Zimbabwe

Chikwari

Bernays

Dringus

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Introduction Index-linked HIV testing, targeted at sexual contacts or children of individuals with HIV, may improve yield and efficiency. The B-GAP study evaluated index-linked testing approaches in health facility and community-based settings. This paper reports on a qualitative study to understand factors that affect index-linked HIV testing for children and adolescents.Methods We conducted four focus group discussions (FGDs) with caregivers who had their children tested through B-GAP and one FGD with providers who offered index-linked HIV testing to indexes. We aimed to understand enabling and inhibiting factors in the decision-making process. Translated and transcribed transcripts were read for familiarisation. Following initial coding, analytical memos were written to identify emerging key themes across the data.Results Caregivers did not have adequate knowledge about the need for, and importance of, paediatric HIV testing. Once the decision to test had been made, access to facilities was sometimes challenging, and alleviated by community-based testing. A key finding was that HIV testing is not a discrete event but a process that was influenced by relationships with other family members and children themselves. These relationships raised complex issues that could prevent or delay the testing process. Conclusion There is a need to improve paediatric HIV literacy and to provide support to caregivers and their families in order to improve testing uptake. Addressing access barriers through the provision of community-based testing and implementing a family centred approach can optimize index-linked testing. Contributions to the literature • Although promoted and recommended by the World Health Organization; index-linked HIV testing for children has not been standard practice in routine HIV care for many countries including Zimbabwe.• Prior this study, no study has evaluated the factors that influence and affect uptake of index-linked HIV testing for children and adolescents as reported in our manuscript. • Our findings have the potential to bridge the HIV testing gap for children and optimize index-linked testing, a strategy that has been shown to result in higher yield of HIV when compared to universal testing but where uptake remains suboptimal.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Addressing the Challenges and Relational Aspects of Index-Linked HIV testing for Children and Adolescents: Insights From The B-GAP Study in Zimbabwe

Chikwari

Bernays

Dringus

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…The state has three senatorial zones with thirteen local government areas. It has 5,533 km 2 estimated land area and more than 40% of its total population are below 15 years of age [17]. The state has an estimated annual growth rate of 2.7% and its adolescents' population is projected to double by year 2050 [17].…”

Section: Study Design and Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has 5,533 km 2 estimated land area and more than 40% of its total population are below 15 years of age [17]. The state has an estimated annual growth rate of 2.7% and its adolescents' population is projected to double by year 2050 [17]. It has been reported that the state has high maternal mortality rate (602 per 100,000 population), and 39.7% of these mortalities occur among adolescent girls age 15-19 years [24][25][26].…”

Section: Study Design and Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Nigeria as in some other Sub-Saharan Africa countries, parents are often preferred as the main source of SRH information for adolescents, but parents and other adults do not feel comfortable discussing SRH issues, especially sex-related matters with young people [14,17]. Moreover, a good number of adolescents pass through school, and hence the school setting has been projected as a cost-effective source of SRH information to adolescents but, many teachers often have reservations about giving such information to adolescents [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, a good number of adolescents pass through school, and hence the school setting has been projected as a cost-effective source of SRH information to adolescents but, many teachers often have reservations about giving such information to adolescents [18]. Besides, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education is poorly implemented in Nigerian schools as a result of similar social and cultural barriers that inhibit open discussions about sexual matters between young people and adults [17,19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing Current And Preferred Sources Of Information On Adolescents’ Sexual And Reproductive Health In Southeast Nigeria: Improving Adolescent Health Programming

Agu

Mbachu

Agu

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Many adolescents lack appropriate information about their sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Although there are numerous information on SRH, they vary in content and quality, and these have implications for the accuracy and appropriateness of SRH information adolescents can access. This study examined the sources of SRH information for adolescents, the value adolescents place on these sources and their significance for adolescent health programming.Method: This was a mixed methods, community-based, cross-sectional study that was conducted in six local government areas in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. Quantitative data were collected using pre-tested questionnaire that was administered to 1057 unmarried adolescents aged 13-18 years. The qualitative data were: Seventy-seven in-depth interviews (IDIs) with stakeholders; twelve (12) focus group discussions (FGDs) with adolescents; and six FGDs with village head. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed for quantitative data using Stata software while thematic framework approach was used to analyze qualitative data.Result: It was found that 60.5% and 39.8% of adolescents reported that school teachers and mothers respectively were their major sources of information about pubertal changes, while teachers (36.3%) and friends (29.8%) were the commonest sources of information on relationship with opposite sex. There were statistically significant associations between sources of information about relationships and age category (p≤0.09). Additional common sources of SRH information elicited through IDIs with adolescents include internet, social media and mass media. Although adolescents valued the information provided by teachers and parents, they preferred information on SRH from their friends/peers, social media and mass media because these sources are easy to access with a guarantee of some level of confidentiality. In the opinion of parents and other stakeholders, sources of appropriate SRH information for adolescents were health workers, teachers, parents and adult family members; whereas peers/friends and social media were considered as inappropriate sources of SRH information for adolescents.Conclusion: Efforts at addressing the need of adolescents for SRH information should be targeted at their valued and preferred sources, whilst maintaining a delicate balance with the choices and expectations of their parents and adult family members.

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Typologies and Correlates of Caregiver-adolescent Sexual Health Communication among Adolescent Girls in Southwestern Uganda

Mutumba,

Brathwaite,

Nabunya

et al. 2024

J Child Fam Stud

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Exploring issues in caregivers and parent communication of sexual and reproductive health matters with adolescents in Ebonyi state, Nigeria

Cited by 50 publications

References 19 publications

Addressing the Challenges and Relational Aspects of Index-Linked HIV testing for Children and Adolescents: Insights From The B-GAP Study in Zimbabwe

Addressing the Challenges and Relational Aspects of Index-Linked HIV testing for Children and Adolescents: Insights From The B-GAP Study in Zimbabwe

Assessing Current And Preferred Sources Of Information On Adolescents’ Sexual And Reproductive Health In Southeast Nigeria: Improving Adolescent Health Programming

Typologies and Correlates of Caregiver-adolescent Sexual Health Communication among Adolescent Girls in Southwestern Uganda

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