Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Human Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia.
Front Public Health. 2024 Aug 19;12:1342027. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1342027. eCollection 2024.
Effective communication between adolescents and their parents is crucial for reducing sexual health problems. This open dialogue can help address misconceptions, provide accurate information, and foster a supportive environment where adolescents feel comfortable seeking guidance and discussing sensitive issues related to their sexual health. In Ethiopia, with its diverse ethnic and cultural background, effective communication between parents and adolescents about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is crucial in reducing the likelihood of adolescents engaging in risky sexual behaviors. Despite the importance of such communications, there were no data showing the level of parent-adolescent communication (PAC) in secondary public schools in Gondar town. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of parent-adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive health issues along with its influencing factors, among secondary students in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia.
We employed an institution-based cross-sectional study design. A total of 424 students were recruited using a systematic random sampling technique, with a 100% response rate. We developed a structured questionnaire from the related literature to collect data from the participants of the study. The data were entered using EpiData version 4.6, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify associated factors.
The proportion of adolescents who had communicated with their parents was 37.7% (95% CI: 34.65-44.76). In a multivariable analysis at a 95% confidence interval (CI), variables such as being female (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.09-7.45), belonging to grades 11-12 (AOR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.19-6.98), living with parents/caregivers (AOR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.07-5.66), having a positive attitude toward sexual health (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.34-7.82), having poor knowledge about SRH issues (AOR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.04-7.81), and having good knowledge about the puberty period (AOR=1.23; 95% CI:1.04-7.89) were statistically associated with parent-adolescent communication.
This study found a low level of communication between parents and adolescents regarding sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues. To address this challenge, it is crucial to implement evidence-based education on SRH topics, such as consent, healthy relationships, communication skills, STDs, contraception, and interpersonal dynamics. Enhancing parent-adolescent dialogue on SRH can be achieved by implementing peer education among senior students and training teachers in effective communication techniques. The study also recommended conducting qualitative research to explore the specific barriers affecting parent-adolescent communication.
青少年与父母之间的有效沟通对于减少性健康问题至关重要。这种开放的对话可以帮助纠正误解，提供准确的信息，并营造一个支持性的环境，让青少年感到舒适，可以寻求指导，并讨论与性健康相关的敏感问题。在埃塞俄比亚，由于其多元的种族和文化背景，父母与青少年就性和生殖健康（SRH）进行有效沟通对于减少青少年从事危险性行为的可能性至关重要。尽管这种沟通很重要，但没有数据显示贡德尔镇公立中学的青少年与父母之间在性和生殖健康问题上的沟通水平。因此，本研究旨在确定贡德尔镇二级公立学校中学生在性和生殖健康问题上与父母沟通的水平及其影响因素。
我们采用了基于机构的横断面研究设计。我们使用系统随机抽样技术共招募了 424 名学生，应答率为 100%。我们根据相关文献制定了一份结构化问卷，从研究对象中收集数据。数据使用 EpiData 版本 4.6 录入，并使用 SPSS 版本 25 进行分析。使用二元逻辑回归模型确定相关因素。
与父母进行过沟通的青少年比例为 37.7%（95%置信区间：34.65-44.76）。在 95%置信区间的多变量分析中，女性（调整后的优势比（AOR）=2.23；95%置信区间：1.09-7.45）、11-12 年级（AOR=1.25；95%置信区间：1.19-6.98）、与父母/照顾者同住（AOR=1.26；95%置信区间：1.07-5.66）、对性健康有积极态度（AOR=2.4；95%置信区间：1.34-7.82）、性与生殖健康知识较差（AOR=1.23；95%置信区间：1.04-7.81）和对青春期知识较好（AOR=1.23；95%置信区间：1.04-7.89）等变量与父母与青少年的沟通具有统计学意义。
本研究发现，父母与青少年在性与生殖健康（SRH）问题上的沟通水平较低。为了解决这一挑战，必须实施基于证据的性与生殖健康教育，包括同意、健康关系、沟通技巧、性传播疾病、避孕和人际关系动态等主题。可以通过在高年级学生中实施同伴教育以及培训教师掌握有效的沟通技巧来加强父母与青少年之间的对话。该研究还建议进行定性研究，以探讨影响父母与青少年沟通的具体障碍。
