Gizaw Abraham Tamirat, Muktar Sualiha Abdulkader, Wondimagegene Yohannes Addisu, Abayneh Mengistu, Sefere Belay Zeleke, Tareke Kasahun Girma, Yilma Abebayehu N
Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Health System Department, International Institute for Primary Health Care, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Front Reprod Health. 2025 May 13;7:1444603. doi: 10.3389/frph.2025.1444603. eCollection 2025.
Youths throughout the world face considerable challenges related to their sexual and reproductive health (SRH). In Ethiopia, the adolescent and youth groups account for nearly half the population. Parents play a vital role in SRH communication. Parents' communication with their children regarding SRH is considered an important part of adolescent development, as this contributes to optimizing safe SRH. Therefore, this study aimed to explore barriers to SRH communication from the perspectives of parents, youths, and teachers in Southwest Ethiopia.
A qualitative research approach was used in four schools (two private and two public) in Jimma town. Data collection entailed 16 focused group discussions with parents and youths (15-24 years) and 12 key informant interviews with school directors, unit leaders, and school media coordinators. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Thematic analysis was conducted using ATLAS_ti software.
Participants recognized the crucial role parents play in SRH issues; however, only a few parents were involved in SRH communications, and there were many barriers raised by the participants. Barriers to SRH communications were parental lack of knowledge, cultural and religious beliefs, the effect of social media use, shame and stigma, and parental attitudes towards SRH communication.
In summary, addressing barriers to sexual and reproductive health communication between parents and youth is crucial for fostering better health outcomes. Parents should be encouraged to have open discussions with their children from an early age. High schools should implement regular SRH education sessions with healthcare providers, while youth-friendly service clubs should focus on changing attitudes towards SRH communications through social and behavioral changes in communication.
世界各地的青少年在性与生殖健康（SRH）方面面临着诸多挑战。在埃塞俄比亚，青少年群体占人口近一半。父母在性与生殖健康交流中起着至关重要的作用。父母与子女就性与生殖健康进行交流被视为青少年发展的重要组成部分，因为这有助于优化安全性与生殖健康。因此，本研究旨在从埃塞俄比亚西南部父母、青少年和教师的角度探讨性与生殖健康交流的障碍。
在吉姆马镇的四所学校（两所私立和两所公立）采用定性研究方法。数据收集包括与父母和青少年（15 - 24岁）进行16次焦点小组讨论，以及与学校校长、单位领导和学校媒体协调员进行12次关键 informant访谈。访谈进行了录音、转录并翻译成英语。使用ATLAS_ti软件进行主题分析。
参与者认识到父母在性与生殖健康问题中所起的关键作用；然而，只有少数父母参与性与生殖健康交流，且参与者提出了许多障碍。性与生殖健康交流的障碍包括父母缺乏知识、文化和宗教信仰、社交媒体使用的影响、羞耻感和污名化，以及父母对性与生殖健康交流的态度。
总之，解决父母与青少年之间性与生殖健康交流的障碍对于促进更好的健康结果至关重要。应鼓励父母从小就与子女进行开放的讨论。高中应与医疗保健提供者定期开展性与生殖健康教育课程，而对青少年友好的服务俱乐部应专注于通过交流中的社会和行为改变来改变对性与生殖健康交流的态度。
