335800
Visualizing Opportunites Inspiring Choices which Embody Success (V.O.I.C.E.S.)
Mothers are a child’s most consistent communicators. Mother-daughter sexual health communication serves as a protective factor to prolong the debut of sex as well as increase condom use and birth control later in life. The ways in which a mother does or does not discuss sexual health topics greatly impacts a daughter’s knowledge, beliefs and future behaviors .
Methods:
The design of this study was conducted in two phases.
Focus Groups:
An elicitation process was implemented to develop the TPB questionnaire (SRGRIGS-Inventory). Information identified Mothers normative, behavioral and control beliefs. Mothers who do and do not communicate with their daughters were recruited to participate in focus groups and personal interviews (n=20 participants).
Surveys:
Participants were asked to complete an anonymous, online survey (SRGRIGS-Inventory) which collected the views of a wide variety of African-American women who were mothers or acted as mother figures to girls between the ages of 9-14 years (n=200 participants).
Results:
- Participants expressed faith/values were important when communicating with daughters.
- Topics involving emotion were hardest to discuss.
- Communication barriers: siblings, peers, and unable to connect with daughters.
- Personal experiences were used to establish open communication.
- Faith institutions should facilitate these conversations between mother-daughter.
Conclusion
African-American mothers’ are positioned to contribute to the reduction of STI/HIV/AIDS and adolescent pregnancy in their daughters. Novel approaches such as The V.O.I.C.E.S. Project are needed to encourage sexual health communication between mothers and daughters to delay sexual debut and decrease pregnancy and rates of STIs in adolescents.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programsAdvocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Communication and informatics
Diversity and culture
Public health or related nursing
Learning Objectives:
Identify personal factors (knowledge, religiosity/spirituality and personal experiences) influence a mother’s confidence and comfort to initiate these conversations with her daughter.
Demonstrate and discuss the role of the Public Health Nurse in the development of a faith-based curricula for African-American mothers and mother-figures to develop the knowledge, comfort and confidence to have these conversations with their daughters in faith-based settings.
Analyze the results from the focus group and surveys completed by Mother/mother-figures participating in this research.
Keyword(s): African American, Communication
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator on this project since its conception. This work that is being proposed to present is original work from my Dissertation project for the completion of my PhD program at University of MO Kansas City. My scientific interests has been towards the development of a faith-based curricula for mothers to feel comfortable and confident to discuss sexual related topics with their pre-adolescent daughters.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.