Parent-young people communication about sexual and reproductive health in E/Wollega zone, West Ethiopia: Implications for interventions

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aims at examining parent-young people communication about sexual and reproductive health related topics and factors associated with it from both young people’s and parents’ perspectives.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,269 young people aged 10–24 years in Nekemte town and semi urban areas, western Ethiopia. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS for windows version 16. The qualitative data was coded, and categorized in to emerging themes using the open code software version 3.4.ResultAbout a third of young people-32.5% (32.4% of females and 32.7% males) engaged in conversation about sexual and reproductive health topics with their parents/parent figures during the last six months. In logistic regression analyses, young people who were aged 15–19 years were more likely to report parent-communication compared to the other age groups (AOR = 1.57; 95%CI = 1.26-1.97). Female young people are more likely to discuss with their mothers, (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.13-3.2), sister (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.19-3.9) and female friends (AOR = 11.7, 95% CI = 7.36-18.7) while males are more likely to discuss with male friends (AOR = 17.3, 95%CI = 10-4-28.6). Educated young people were more likely to parent-communicate(AOR = 1.70, 95%CI = 1.30-2.24). Fear of parent, cultural taboos attached to sex, embarrassments, and parents’ lack of knowledge related to sexual and reproductive health were found to be barriers for parent communication. Parent-communication takes place not only infrequently but also in warning, & threatening way.ConclusionParent-young people communication about sexual health is occurring rarely in the family and bounded by certain barriers. Programmes/policies related to young people’s reproductive health should address not only individual or behavioral factors but also cultural and social factors that negatively influence parent-communication about reproductive health.

Assessment of Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues among Mizan Secondary and Preparatory School Students with Parents, Mizan Town, Ethiopia, 2016

“…This difference may be due to socio economic difference of the society. Majority (85.4%) of respondents reported that they had no any pocket money given to them but only (48.1%) of them had pocket money of less than 200 birr, The study done in Wolega (55%) of respondents had pocket money less than 200 birr [20]. This may be due to the socio economic and cultural difference of the society.…”

“…Out of the total 103 respondents 65(63.1%) of them had discussed about contraceptive methods, the study done in south west Nigeria (70.5%) of respondents and study done in Mekele (35.3%) of respondents had discussed about contraceptive methods with their parents [41,43]. This difference may be due to cultural variation of the society, difference for the accessibility of information about SRH issues and variation of knowledge of students and parents about contraceptive, in our study from the total of 58 female participants who were discussed about SRH 41(70.7%) of them had discussed about menstruation with their parents, the study done in Wolega (10.4%) of female respondents had discussed about menstruation, study done in south west Nigeria (87.1%) of female respondents had discussed about menstruation [20,41]. This variation may be due cultural difference of the society and method of data collection of the study.…”

“…Pocket money = is money given to students by their parents for recreational purpose like for tea break [20].…”

Emergency contraceptive use in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Challenging common assumptions about young people’s contraceptive practices

“…Young women narrated how they hardly communicated with their parents about sexual matters except in the form of receiving warnings. 26 "Don't bring home a dikala [bastard child]" was something frequently said to young women.…”

Sexual Behaviors and Lexicons of Words Used to Talk on Sexual Issues among Young People: The Case of Debre Berhan University Students, Ethiopia

“…It has been noted that sexual communication is predictive of condom use, and reported as a means to self-efficacy among heterosexuals [13,14]. Sexual behaviors of the young people is shaped and influenced by conversations and interactions with peers [1,2,11,[14][15][16][17][18]. Young people are more likely to talk openly with close friends.…”