PARENT_ADOLESCENT COMMUNICATION ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREPARATORY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AT DABAT TOWN, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA, 2018.

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