Assessing Parental influence on Adolescent Sexual Behaviour in the Bantama-Metro
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Date
June, 2019.
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Abstract
Introduction
According to the WHO, the term adolescence is defined as a period of life between 10-19
years. It is a unique period of age characterized by significant physical, cognitive, emotional
and social changes.
Parents-adolescent’s influence is vital for the outright growth and development in all aspects
including sexual and reproductive health of adolescence. However, parents-adolescence
communication on sexual issues, supervision and monitoring and provision of basic needs
are sometimes lacked. This behavior most often results in a larger proportion of adolescents
engaging in unhealthy or risky sexual behavior. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess
the influence of parents in adolescent sexual behavior.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 adolescents aged 10-19 years in the
Bantama metropolis. A structured questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographics of
respondents, sources of information regarding reproductive health, parental roles,
adolescent’s knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and sexual behavior. Simple
random sample was employed to select participants. Data in the questionnaires was coded
and entered using MS Excel Version 2016 for windows and then exported to Stata Version
14.0 for analysis. The mean, standard deviation, percentages and cross tabulations were used
for the descriptive analysis.
Results
A total of 400 adolescence aged 10-19 participated in the study. There was high knowledge
on condom use 269 (67.25%) and adolescents main source of information on sexual and
reproductive health were from peers, 105 (26.25%).
Academics issues are the most issues discussed with parents by adolescents, (52.50%) whilst
sexual and reproductive health issues are the least issues discussed with parents, (3.75%).
The study found that, more than half 247 (61.75%) had never had sex before, out of the
respondents who have had sex, majority 81 (52.94%) had had sex for the last six months and
condom was the most common 50 (76.54%) . Most 62 (76.54%) had had sex with only one
person whiles 8 (9.88%) had had sex with three or more persons.
Conclusion
Poor parental relationship with their children in matters related to sexual and reproductive
health as they enter adolescent were high in this study. Adolescence knowledge on
emergency contraceptives, birth control pills were low compared to knowledge on condom
use, abortion services and STIs including HIV/AIDS.
Adoption of behavioral change strategies such as family gathering, real lifestyle experience
story-telling that would enable them have cordial relationships with their adolescent children
Health facilities should intensify their education on long lasting family planning services
and emergency contraceptive pills for adolescents. Comprehensive health education about
sexual and reproductive health should be infused into the school curriculum to enable
adolescents have adequate knowledge on sexual issues.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Public Health in Population, Family & Reproductive Health.
Keywords
Parental influence, Sexual Behaviour, Adolescent