Abstract
BackgroundParents play critical roles in adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and discussions between parents and adolescents on this topic are fundamental in reducing adolescents’ risky sexual behaviors. However, SRH communication is a challenging issue in Myanmar due to socio-cultural taboos. This study assessed the communication barriers towards SRH issues among mothers and their adolescent girls.MethodsA community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2017 in Taunggyi Township, Southern Shan State, Myanmar. In total, 112 pairs of mothers and adolescent daughters were recruited using a face-to-face interview method with semi-structured questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine communication barriers on SRH issues between mothers and their adolescent girls.ResultsMore than half of both mother and adolescent girls had negative perceptions of communication on SRH issues. Only 2.7% of girls discussed SRH issues with their mothers more than four times in the last six months. The factors found to create SRH communication barriers were higher family incomes (adjusted odd ration [AOR] 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0, 6.2), good knowledge of puberty (AOR 4.5, 95% CI 1.6, 12.5), good knowledge of sexual and reproductive health issues (AOR 4.5, 95% CI 1.8, 11.5), and positive perception of communication (AOR 6.7, 95% CI 2.5, 17.9) among mothers, and good knowledge of contraception (AOR 5.7, 95% CI 1.5, 21.4) and good knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (AOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.0, 6.4) among adolescent girls.ConclusionMothers and adolescent girls communicated on SRHs was narrow, occurring infrequently and late, with only limited topics discussed. Having higher levels of SRH knowledge were more likely to create communication barriers among mother and adolescent girls. Policy makers need to consider targeted sexual and reproductive health education programs that can be implemented at the school and community levels to increase parent-adolescent communication.
Highlights
In 2017, 1.2 billion of the world’s population were youth between the ages of 15–24 and the global fertility rate of adolescents aged 15–19 years was 50 births per 1000 women [1]
Mothers and adolescent girls communicated on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) was narrow, occurring infrequently and late, with only limited topics discussed
Policy makers need to consider targeted sexual and reproductive health education programs that can be implemented at the school and community levels to increase parent-adolescent communication
Summary
In 2017, 1.2 billion of the world’s population were youth between the ages of 15–24 and the global fertility rate of adolescents aged 15–19 years was 50 births per 1000 women [1]. Adolescence is defined as individuals between the ages of 10 to 19 and the continuum of physical, behavioral, psychological, and social changes that occur during this stage. Adolescence is the period between the ages of 10 and 14 and is described by initial physical changes and rapid brain development. Middle adolescence is the period between the ages of 15 and 16 when sexual orientation gradually changes. SRH communication is a challenging issue in Myanmar due to socio-cultural taboos. This study assessed the communication barriers towards SRH issues among mothers and their adolescent girls
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
