Factors facilitating adolescent communication with the parents about sexual risk taking behaviors at selected school of Gasabo district

Abstract

Background: Unwanted pregnancy and early marriage among adolescent is public health concern, in East Africa younger generation engages into sexual activities leading to early pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexual abuse and sexual transmitted infections, hence, parent- adolescent communication could be sustainable solution to the adolescent reproductive health. The purpose of this study: To determine factors facilitating adolescent communication with the parents about sexual risky taking behaviors Objectives of the study: to determine how adolescents are communicating with their parents about sexual risk activities and to find out the factors facilitating positive communication about sexual risk activities and between adolescents and their parents Methodology: Non-experimental, descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. The data was collected through self-administered questionnaire. The sample size of 199 was obtained through n=N/1+N (E)2 formula. Simple random sampling technique was used and participation was voluntarily. Data analysis was performed through Statistical Package for the Social Science. Pearson correlation was used to determine the association between variables. The Cronbach’s’ coefficient was performed to assess the reliability of variables Results: The mean age of participants is 15.86, SD= 1.62; 96.5% live with their family together with more than 4 brothers or sisters (76.1%). 20.1% never spoken to their mother about sexual risk activities whereas 28.8% never discuss with their father about sexual risk activities, thus, the parent –adolescent closeness is done by both parent at 40.2%. Age, living arrangement, family length, are associated with parent-adolescent general communication (p<0.05). The home mate and time allocate to the adolescent are significantly associated with adolescent-parent communication towards reproductive issues and quality of parentadolescent communication towards sexual issues (p<0.05). Finally, the adolescent sexual activity practices and use of condom are significantly associated to parent –adolescent communication about reproductive health (p-value<0.05) Conclusion: Family length, home mate of adolescent and time allocated to the adolescent are key element to adolescent-parent communication towards sexual risk behavior.