OBJECTIVES: Parent-adolescent communication about sexuality has been shown to influence adolescents' sexual behaviour. This study aims to describe communication about sex between Mexican parents and adolescents, and its relation to age at first intercourse and condom use. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with self-administered questionnaires of first year students at 23 high schools. Communication was divided into three themes: biological aspects, risks associated with sexual behaviour, and prevention. For sexually active adolescents, discussion timing was determined to have occurred prior to, or after sexual initiation. Analysis included logistic regression models stratifying by discussion timing. RESULTS: Overall 5,461 questionnaires were analysed. Among male respondents 24.3% and among females 10.6% stated that they were sexually active. As many as 83.1% reported having spoken with parents about sexual relations. Communication was more common with mothers. Discussions about risk and prevention prior to sexual initiation was associated with condom use at first intercourse (Odds ratio [OR] = 2.05); late discussion was associated with younger age (<15) at first intercourse (OR = 3.51). CONCLUSIONS: Communication before onset of sexual activity about risk and prevention is associated with safe sex practices. Improving parent-adolescent communication is a poorly studied strategy to influence adolescents' behaviour. Interventions should promote early parent-adolescent communication.
OBJECTIVES: Parent-adolescent communication about sexuality has been shown to influence adolescents' sexual behaviour. This study aims to describe communication about sex between Mexican parents and adolescents, and its relation to age at first intercourse and condom use. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with self-administered questionnaires of first year students at 23 high schools. Communication was divided into three themes: biological aspects, risks associated with sexual behaviour, and prevention. For sexually active adolescents, discussion timing was determined to have occurred prior to, or after sexual initiation. Analysis included logistic regression models stratifying by discussion timing. RESULTS: Overall 5,461 questionnaires were analysed. Among male respondents 24.3% and among females 10.6% stated that they were sexually active. As many as 83.1% reported having spoken with parents about sexual relations. Communication was more common with mothers. Discussions about risk and prevention prior to sexual initiation was associated with condom use at first intercourse (Odds ratio [OR] = 2.05); late discussion was associated with younger age (<15) at first intercourse (OR = 3.51). CONCLUSIONS: Communication before onset of sexual activity about risk and prevention is associated with safe sex practices. Improving parent-adolescent communication is a poorly studied strategy to influence adolescents' behaviour. Interventions should promote early parent-adolescent communication.
Authors: Orratai Rhucharoenpornpanich; Aphichat Chamratrithirong; Warunee Fongkaew; Brenda A Miller; Pamela K Cupp; Michael J Rosati; Hilary F Byrnes; Katharine A Atwood; Warunee Chookhare Journal: J Health Commun Date: 2011-12-29
Authors: Shandey Malcolm; Shi Huang; David Cordova; Derek Freitas; Margaret Arzon; Giselle Leon Jimenez; Hilda Pantin; Guillermo Prado Journal: Health Educ Behav Date: 2012-05-04
Authors: Wanda I Figueroa-Cosme; Christine Miranda-Díaz; Nanet M López-Córdova; José A Capriles; Carmen N Velez; Lydia E Santiago; Carmen Zorrilla Journal: Arch Clin Med Case Rep Date: 2018-11-09
Authors: Jennifer Ilo Van Nuil; Philippe Mutwa; Brenda Asiimwe-Kateera; Evelyne Kestelyn; Joseph Vyankandondera; Robert Pool; John Ruhirimbura; Chantal Kanakuze; Peter Reiss; Sibyl P M Geelen; Janneke H van de Wijgert; Kimberly R Boer Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-08-05 Impact factor: 3.240