International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Nov 19;22(1):2129. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14561-3.
Communication on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) between caregivers and their young adolescent children plays a significant role in shaping attitudes and behaviours that are critical to laying the foundations for positive and safe SRH behaviours in later adolescence. Nevertheless, this communication is often limited, particularly in countries where adolescent sexuality is taboo. This study assessed the topics discussed ('level') and the comfort of caregivers with communicating with young adolescents on SRH, and their correlates. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 218 caregivers of young adolescents (10-14 years) in Mbarara district of south-western Uganda in January and February 2020. Participants were selected through consecutive sampling. A structured, pre-tested questionnaire administered by interviewers was used for data collection. The surveys were computer-assisted using Kobo Collect software. Data was exported to STATA 14 for analysis. Level of SRH communication was measured based on 10 SRH communication topics, while comfort was based on 9 SRH discussion topics. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to determine correlates of level of, and comfort with, SRH communication P-value < 0.05 was considered for statistical significance.
The mean number of topics that caregivers discussed was 3.9 (SD = 2.7) out of the 10 SRH topics explored. None of the respondents discussed all the topics; 2% reported ever discussing nine topics with their young adolescent, while 3.5% reported never discussing any of the topics. General health and bodily hygiene (89.9%) and HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (77.5%) were the most commonly discussed, while night emissions in boys (4.3%) and condoms (8.3%) were least discussed. The majority of caregivers (62%) reported a high level of comfort with discussing SRH. The mean comfort score was 21.9 (SD = 3.8). In general, the level of SRH communication increased with an increase in comfort with SRH communication β = 0.22 (0.04); 95% CI = (0.15, 0.30). The level of comfort with SRH communication decreased with an increase in the number of YAs in a household β = -0.92 (0.38); 95%CI = (-1.66,-0.18).
Overall, the level of SRH communication is low and varies according to the number of SRH topics. Caregivers' comfort with SRH communication with YAs was a significant correlate of SRH communication. This justifies the need for interventions that aim to improve caregivers' comfort with communicating with young adolescents about SRH.
照顾者与年幼的青少年就性与生殖健康（SRH）进行沟通，对于塑造态度和行为至关重要，这些态度和行为对青少年后期积极和安全的 SRH 行为起着基础作用。然而，这种沟通往往是有限的，特别是在青少年性行为被视为禁忌的国家。本研究评估了照顾者讨论的主题（“水平”）以及他们与青少年就 SRH 进行沟通的舒适度，并分析了其相关性。
2020 年 1 月至 2 月，在乌干达西南部姆巴拉拉区对 218 名 10-14 岁的青少年的照顾者进行了一项横断面调查。参与者通过连续抽样选择。使用经过预测试的结构化问卷，由访谈员进行数据收集。调查使用 Kobo 收集软件进行计算机辅助。数据导出到 STATA 14 进行分析。SRH 沟通水平根据 10 个 SRH 沟通主题进行衡量，而舒适度则根据 9 个 SRH 讨论主题进行衡量。P 值<0.05 被认为具有统计学意义。
照顾者讨论的主题平均数量为 3.9（SD=2.7），涉及 10 个探索的 SRH 主题。没有一个受访者讨论了所有的主题；2%的受访者报告说曾经与青少年讨论过九个主题，而 3.5%的受访者报告说从未讨论过任何主题。一般健康和身体卫生（89.9%）和艾滋病毒/艾滋病和其他性传播感染（STIs）（77.5%）是最常讨论的主题，而男孩的夜间遗精（4.3%）和避孕套（8.3%）是讨论最少的主题。大多数照顾者（62%）表示他们非常愿意讨论 SRH。平均舒适度评分为 21.9（SD=3.8）。一般来说，随着对 SRH 沟通的舒适度的提高，SRH 沟通的水平也会提高β=0.22（0.04）；95%CI=（0.15, 0.30）。随着家庭中青少年人数的增加，对 SRH 沟通的舒适度会降低β=-0.92（0.38）；95%CI=（-1.66，-0.18）。
总体而言，SRH 沟通的水平较低，并且根据 SRH 主题的数量而有所不同。照顾者与青少年进行 SRH 沟通的舒适度是 SRH 沟通的一个重要相关因素。这证明需要干预措施，旨在提高照顾者与青少年就 SRH 进行沟通的舒适度。
