Assessment of Communication on Sexual And Reproductive Health Issue Among Preparatory Students With Their Parents in Bishoftu Preparatory School Bishoftu Town ,Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Adolescence is a period of rapid physical, psychological and emotional development and a period of adjustments with family and society. Generally this transition is smooth; though it can sometimes be stormy. Their decision and action particularly with regard to sexual activity can significantly affect the rest of their lives. This study aim to assess communication on matters relate to sexuality and reproductive health issue among preparatory school students with their parents which might help in proposing solution to pave a way to help the adolescent to communicate issues with their parents. Methods: Cross sectional study design was used, and the study was carried out from March 2017 to June 2017 among preparatory students in Oromia region Bishoftu town Bishoftu Preparatory School. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 360 students from 11 and 12 grades. Data were entered and analyzed by SPSS version 16.1.chi-square test was used to assess the association between dependent and independent variables and p-value <0.05 was used as a cut-off point. Results: Three hundred two (87.7%) of students had ever discussed on at least two sexual and reproductive health topics with their parents. There was no statistically significant association between communication level and sex(p-value=0.363), ethnicity(p-value=o.191), parental marital status(p-value=0.413), whom they are living with (p-value=0.245), as well as whether they have had sexual encounter or not(p-value=0.291). There was statistically significant association between communication level and respondents grade(p-value=0.000),religion (p value=0.017), mother educational status(p-value=0.000), father educational status(p value=0.000),students’ knowledge on STI(p-value=0.002), and contraceptive(p-value=0.000), ,their attitude and behavior towards premarital sex acceptance (p-value=0.000), and acceptability of sexual feelings during adolescence(p-value=0.000). Most of students feel comfortable to discuss sexual issues with their mother 89(25.9%) and friends 85(24.7%) followed by sisters 83 (24.1%).and the primary reason that they don’t discuss is shame and lack of knowledge on SRH issues. The mean age of sexual initiation is 16.97 years of age Conclusion: Communication on sexual and reproductive health issue between adolescent and their parent was good. (1) School based education importance is unquestionable. Parents need to be educated at list to a level of secondary school. As media are effective way of information transmission to address parents we need to give them emphasis