Predictors of Adolescent Parent Communication and Safe Sexual Behaviour among In-School Adolescents

Adolescents in communicating about their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues are faced with the obstacles created by expected social norms and taboos related to sexuality and gender. This study aims to determine the relationship between adolescent-parent communication and its relationship with safe sex behaviour among adolescents. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional. Data was collected from 400 adolescents in Ife-East local government using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. We used a multistage sampling technique to select the required study subjects. We carried out simple frequencies and chi-square.  Fifty –five percent (55.3%) of the respondents were females, while 44.8% are males. The mean age (±SD) of the participants was 15.50 ±1.55years. Of the respondents, only 37% had good knowledge of sexual and reproductive health issues, while 63% had poor knowledge of sexual and reproductive health issues. The predictors of adolescent parent communication among respondents are private schools (OR=2.546, P = 0.005, CI=1.327-4.885), Female sex (OR=12.128, P<0.001, CI=11.590 – 25.534),   family size (OR=14.772, P= 0.003, CI=13.037 –20.015) and good knowledge of sexual and reproductive health issues (OR=19.521, P= 0.007, CI=19.521 –29.078).  There is a statistically significant relationship between adolescent parent communication and safe sexual behaviour (X²=152.998, P <0.001, df = 1). The findings of our study revealed that adolescents were not communicating much with parents about sexual and reproductive health issues; and that there is an association between adolescent parent communication and safe sexual behaviour.

Het effect van interpersoonlijke communicatie op condoomgebruik bij jongeren met losse of beginnende seksuele relaties

The effect of interpersonal communication on condom use among adolescents with casual or recent steady sexual relationships The effect of interpersonal communication on condom use among adolescents with casual or recent steady sexual relationships In the context of a health campaign on condom use in new relationships, this study examined the effects of interpersonal communication about condom use, std-tests, and health campaigns on the use of condoms in beginning relationships of young people, 18-25 years old. In a two-wave prospective study, 544 persons answered a pre-campaign questionnaire as well as, three months later, a post-campaign questionnaire. Interpersonal communication regarding safe sexual behaviour influences both intention to use condoms as well as the use of condoms. Interpersonal communication seems essential to establish changes in sexual behavior.

Gender Differences in HIV-Related Sexual Behavior among College Students from Spain and Portugal

Under the perspective of the Theory of Planned Behavior, the objective of this study was to know the gender differences in the variables involved in the use of effective preventive measures in sexual relations against HIV in a sample of university students from Spain and Portugal. Furthermore, it is examined whether these factors produce different predictions concerning the adoption of safe sexual behaviour for young man and women in each country. The sample consisted of 683 university students, 319 Portuguese (64% female and 36% male) from the University of Algarve and 364 Spanish students (51% female and 49% male) from the University of Huelva. Data were obtained by means of a questionnaire. The data revealed that there are gender differences which apply in both countries, highlighting that the young women have more positive attitudes, greater perceived behavioural control and intention of condom use than young men. However, they protect themselves less that their male counterparts: the percentage of females who say using condoms as a contraceptive method is less than the percentage of males, and especially with their steady partners. The results are discussed in relation to gender role norms, to have a steady partner or not, gender relations, the associated meaning to sexual relations for men and women and their implications for the design of sexual educational programmes for them.