Perceptions and experiences of adolescents, parents and school administrators regarding adolescent-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health issues in urban and rural Uganda
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Date
2015-11-30
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cross Mark
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Evidence suggests that in spite of some adolescents being sexually active, many parents do not
discuss sex-related issues with them due to lack of age-appropriate respectful vocabulary and skills. The likelihood
of parent-adolescent communication improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes appears plausible. The
desire to understand parent-adolescent communication and how to improve it for promotion of healthy sexual
behaviours inspired this research. The paper is meant to describe perceptions of adolescents, parents and school
administrators about parent-adolescent communication on sexual issues; describe the content of such communication
and identify factors that influence this communication.
Methods: The study was done among two urban and two rural secondary school students in their second year of
education. Data were collected from 11 focus group discussions and 10 key Informants Interviews. Data
management, analysis and interpretation followed thematic analysis principles. Illuminating verbatim
quotations are used to illustrate findings.
Results: Parental warmth and acceptability of children was perceived by parents to be foundational for a
healthy adolescent- parent communication. Perceptions of adolescents tended to point to more open and
frequent communication with mothers than fathers and to cordial relationships with mothers. Fathers were
perceived by adolescents to be strict, intimidating, unapproachable and unavailable. While adolescents tended
to generally discuss sexual issues with mothers, male adolescents communicated less with anyone on sex,
relationships and condoms. Much of the parent-adolescent communication was perceived to focus on
sexually transmitted infections and body changes. Discussions of sex and dating with adolescents were
perceived to be rare. Common triggers of sexuality discussions with female adolescents were; onset of
menstruation and perceived abortion in the neighbourhood. Discussion with male adolescents, if it occurred
was perceived to be triggered by parental suspicion of having female ‘friends’ or coming home late. Peers at
school and mass media were perceived to the main source of sexuality information.
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Description
Keywords
Adolescents, Parents, school administrators, adolescent-parent communication, communication, sexual, reproductive health issues, Urban and Rural, Uganda
Citation
Muhwezi WW, Katahoire AR, Banura C, Mugooda H, Kwesiga D, Bastien S, Klepp KI. Perceptions and experiences of adolescents, parents and school administrators regarding adolescent-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health issues in urban and rural Uganda. Reprod Health. 2015 Nov 30;12:110. doi: 10.1186/s12978-015-0099-3. PMID: 26621129; PMCID: PMC4665849.