Let's talk sex: the perceived impact of skills training on grandmothers' communcation with pre-adolescent and adolescent grandchildren about sexual and reproductive health
1
goGOGOgo, Johannesburg, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2342
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
HIV continues to pose major public health issues in South Africa, particularly for adolescent girls and young women (AGYM) aged 15-24. With nearly 8 children aged 0-17 being raised in 3.4 million grandparent-headed households (1), responsibility for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) communication continues to shift to older caregivers. 64.5% of these households headed by grandmothers, who enable access to healthcare and information for AGYM in their care. SexTalk4GOGOs engaged grandmothers in Alexandra township on their experiences discussing sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with pre-adolescent and adolescent grandchildren aged 10-18.
METHODS:
The intervention consisted of a 2-hour training workshop with 10 grandmothers, using the book HIV & AIDS by Marina Appelbaum, to practice communication skills and discuss SRH topics. Data collection occurred at three points: pre-intervention (baseline interviews), 3 weeks post-intervention (focus group discussion) and 3-7 months post-intervention (in-depth interviews). Thematic analysis was conducted, and inductive codes and themes were identified in the subsequent study.
RESULTS:
The study found that SRH communication between grandmothers and pre-adolescent and adolescent grandchildren was hindered by several factors. These included taboo and cultural issues, gender, the generation gap, knowledge about HIV and AIDS, the personal experiences of grandmothers with similar conversations in their childhood and self-efficacy regarding SRH content. During the intervention, grandmothers highlighted the importance of SRH conversations and demonstrated a readiness to overcome these barriers to support their grandchildren. However, grandmothers felt that further training was required for them and expressed interest in skills training workshops for their grandchildren.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study demonstrated the value of interventions that facilitate SRH communication between grandmothers and pre-adolescent and adolescent grandchildren. Despite numerous barriers, grandmothers were prepared to engage in intergenerational conversations to keep their grandchildren healthy and promote safer sexual choices.
HIV continues to pose major public health issues in South Africa, particularly for adolescent girls and young women (AGYM) aged 15-24. With nearly 8 children aged 0-17 being raised in 3.4 million grandparent-headed households (1), responsibility for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) communication continues to shift to older caregivers. 64.5% of these households headed by grandmothers, who enable access to healthcare and information for AGYM in their care. SexTalk4GOGOs engaged grandmothers in Alexandra township on their experiences discussing sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with pre-adolescent and adolescent grandchildren aged 10-18.
METHODS:
The intervention consisted of a 2-hour training workshop with 10 grandmothers, using the book HIV & AIDS by Marina Appelbaum, to practice communication skills and discuss SRH topics. Data collection occurred at three points: pre-intervention (baseline interviews), 3 weeks post-intervention (focus group discussion) and 3-7 months post-intervention (in-depth interviews). Thematic analysis was conducted, and inductive codes and themes were identified in the subsequent study.
RESULTS:
The study found that SRH communication between grandmothers and pre-adolescent and adolescent grandchildren was hindered by several factors. These included taboo and cultural issues, gender, the generation gap, knowledge about HIV and AIDS, the personal experiences of grandmothers with similar conversations in their childhood and self-efficacy regarding SRH content. During the intervention, grandmothers highlighted the importance of SRH conversations and demonstrated a readiness to overcome these barriers to support their grandchildren. However, grandmothers felt that further training was required for them and expressed interest in skills training workshops for their grandchildren.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study demonstrated the value of interventions that facilitate SRH communication between grandmothers and pre-adolescent and adolescent grandchildren. Despite numerous barriers, grandmothers were prepared to engage in intergenerational conversations to keep their grandchildren healthy and promote safer sexual choices.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
