The family environment presents an important opportunity for providing youth sexual education. Research was conducted in urban Dakar and a surrounding rural community in Senegal to 1) assess the psychological, cultural and sociological barriers that parents and other family members face in the communication of issues related to sexuality and reproductive health; 2) analyze the types of messages parents give as well as the attitudes parents have when communicating reproductive health issues and; 3) identify the needs of the parents and adolescents/children regarding information, education, and communication in reproductive health, as well as the strategies to improve the communication environment. The study integrates both quantitative and qualitative data gathered through complementary approaches: participatory assessment, focus group discussions with youth and parents, individual questionnaire and observed guided family discussions.
The results indicate that inter-generational sexual education is an informal and on-going communication process. The communication goal is not to provide information but rather to develop behaviors that would protect young people from problems related to reproductive health. The principal actors are mothers and older siblings. The content of the messages transmitted can be grouped in four categories: restrictive, protective, positive example-setting or responsibility-based. Scope and content of the messages differ for boys and girls. Psychological, cultural and structural barriers that represent obstacles to the communication on reproductive health were also analyzed. Different strategies are suggested to promote communication within families and the feasibility of working with parents is considered.
Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will acquire an understanding of the dynamics of intergenerational communication within the family in Senegal concerning sexuality and reproductive health. At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to: 1) Identify four major types of messages related to sexual and reproductive health transmitted by parents and the gender differences involved 2) Articulate research implications for developing interventions to promote improved inter-generational communication within the family concering sexuality and reproductive health 3) Consider the feasibility of targeting parents as communicators for improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health knowledge and practices
Keywords: Adolescents, International, Communication
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.