Abstract:
Background: Parents are the potential source of information for adolescents and more likely
to protect adolescents� agains risky sexual behavior, including early sexual initation and its
complications as unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Objective: To assess Parent-Adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive health
issues and associated factors among secondary and preparatory school students in Dabat
town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2018.
Methds: Institution -based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to April 10,
2018. A multistage sampling technique was applied to select a total sample size of 550. The
data were collected using structured, pre tested self administered questionnaires. The data
were entered into Epi info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 23 software. Both
bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed. P-value of less than
0.05 and odds ratio with 95% confident interval was considered as statistically significant.
Result:-This study revealed that nearly half 48.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] (44.5-52.7)
of the participants had discussed with sexual and reproductive health issues with their
parents. Being male student (adjusted odds ration [AOR] =1.6; 95% CI: 1.1 � 2.25), having
family income greater than 1000 birr [AOR = 1.6; 95%CI: 1.02 � 2.57], being knowledgable
on sexual reproductive health [AOR = 1.5; 95%CI: 1.03 � 2.09], having favorable attitude on
sexual and reproductive health issue [AOR = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.29 � 2.67] are factors
significantly associated with parents adolescents communication on SRH issues.
Conculusion and Reccomendation: This study showed that low proportion of adolescents
had communication with their parents on sexual and reproductive health issues. Being male,
family income greater than 1000 birr, knowledge and attitude of adolescents on sexual and
reproductive health issues had significant association. Therefore, Parents should encouraged
to open discussion among family mebemers on sexual and reproductive health issues and
Adolescents and parents should be equipped with appropriate sexual and reproductive
health information.
Keywordes: Communication, Reproductive health, Parents, Adolescents