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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Liying Zhang¹, Xiaoming Li¹, Iqbal Shah², Wendy Baldwin³, and Bonita Stanton¹. (1) Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, 4201 St. Antoine Street, UHC-6D, Detroit, MI 48201, 313-993-0662, lzhan@med.wayne.edu, (2) Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, Geneva 27, 1211, Switzerland, (3) Executive V P Research, University of Kentucky, 311h Main Building 0032, Lexington, KY 40506

Background: Adolescents' sexual and reproductive health has become a major concern in China but there is a general shortage of sources or programs to provide information, education and services for them, and current existing sexual education is not yet in place for most of them. Under traditional Chinese social norms, parents often avoid direct discussion about sexual issues including contraception with their teenage because the topic is sensitive and embarrassing. This study is designed to analyze parent-child communication on sexual matters and its related factors. Study Design: The data were collected in 2001 in Changchun, China. Unmarried adolescents aged 15-19 years old (322 males and 360 females) were included in a survey with self-administered questionnaires. Results: Results show that 35%, 30%, and 17% of adolescents communicated with peers, mothers and fathers, respectively, on sexual issues. Logistic regression analysis indicated that age, sex, quality of communication with mother, opposite-sex friendship related to adolescents' sexual communication with parents and peers. Conclusion: The present study revealed that there is increased trend towards premarital sexual relationship among young people, but the communication between parents on sexual matters is very limited. It is concluded that, in addition to school sexual education and public education information material, peers and parents should serve as important sources of information on sexual education as well.

Learning Objectives:

• This study is designed to analyze parent-child communication on sexual matters and its related factors. The present study revealed that there is increased trend towards premarital sexual relationship among young people, but the communication between parents on sexual matters is very limited. In addition to school sexual education and public education information material, peers and parents should serve as important sources of information on sexual education as well.

Keywords: Adolescents, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No