Sexual and reproductive health knowledge and parent–adolescent communication among secondary school adolescents in rural Nigeria: a cross-sectional study
1
Faulty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
2
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
3
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa bear a disproportionate burden of adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, driven in part by inadequate SRH knowledge and structural supports(1). Parents are key potential SRH information sources, yet communication is often limited or inaccurate(2). We assessed SRH knowledge and associations with socio-demographic characteristics and parent–adolescent SRH communication among in-school adolescents.
METHODS:
We conducted a school-based cross-sectional study among 324 adolescents aged 10–19 years in Igbo-Ora, Oyo State, Nigeria from November–December 2024. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the WHO’s Asking Young People About Sexual and Reproductive Behaviours and prior research. SRH knowledge was scored and categorized as good(≥50%) or poor(<50%). Using SPSS, data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, multinomial logistic regression to assess associations between socio-demographic characteristics and parental communication with SRH knowledge domains.
RESULTS:
Mean age was 14.4(SD 1.9) years; 55% were female and 53% attended public schools. Good knowledge was highest for HIV(93.2%) and safe sex(77.8%), but >50% had poor knowledge of contraceptives(56.5%) and non HIV STI(63.9%). School type, parental education, and parental occupation were significantly associated with knowledge of non-HIV STIs. Adolescents in public schools had substantially lower odds of good knowledge of non-HIV STIs than those in private schools (aOR=0.37; 95%CI: 0.21–0.64). Maternal occupation as trader was associated with better HIV and non HIV STI knowledge. Overall, 60.8% reported at least one SRH discussion with parents, but parental communication was not significantly associated with better SRH knowledge.
CONCLUSIONS:
Adolescents showed strong HIV and safe sex knowledge but gaps in contraceptive and non HIV STI knowledge, with socioeconomic and school-type disparities. Parent–adolescent SRH communication, as currently practiced, did not translate into higher SRH knowledge. Equity-focused strengthening of school-based SRH curricula, alongside interventions to improve parents’ SRH literacy and communication skills, is needed.
Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa bear a disproportionate burden of adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, driven in part by inadequate SRH knowledge and structural supports(1). Parents are key potential SRH information sources, yet communication is often limited or inaccurate(2). We assessed SRH knowledge and associations with socio-demographic characteristics and parent–adolescent SRH communication among in-school adolescents.
METHODS:
We conducted a school-based cross-sectional study among 324 adolescents aged 10–19 years in Igbo-Ora, Oyo State, Nigeria from November–December 2024. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the WHO’s Asking Young People About Sexual and Reproductive Behaviours and prior research. SRH knowledge was scored and categorized as good(≥50%) or poor(<50%). Using SPSS, data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, multinomial logistic regression to assess associations between socio-demographic characteristics and parental communication with SRH knowledge domains.
RESULTS:
Mean age was 14.4(SD 1.9) years; 55% were female and 53% attended public schools. Good knowledge was highest for HIV(93.2%) and safe sex(77.8%), but >50% had poor knowledge of contraceptives(56.5%) and non HIV STI(63.9%). School type, parental education, and parental occupation were significantly associated with knowledge of non-HIV STIs. Adolescents in public schools had substantially lower odds of good knowledge of non-HIV STIs than those in private schools (aOR=0.37; 95%CI: 0.21–0.64). Maternal occupation as trader was associated with better HIV and non HIV STI knowledge. Overall, 60.8% reported at least one SRH discussion with parents, but parental communication was not significantly associated with better SRH knowledge.
CONCLUSIONS:
Adolescents showed strong HIV and safe sex knowledge but gaps in contraceptive and non HIV STI knowledge, with socioeconomic and school-type disparities. Parent–adolescent SRH communication, as currently practiced, did not translate into higher SRH knowledge. Equity-focused strengthening of school-based SRH curricula, alongside interventions to improve parents’ SRH literacy and communication skills, is needed.
| 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.
