How Parental Training Influence Parent-Adolescent Discussion on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health: A One Year Quasi Experimental Study in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Discussions between parents and adolescents on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) is vital in tackling the rising problems associated with ASRH. Objectives: This study was designed to determine the effect of parental training on the parent-adolescent discussion on ASRH in Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A one-year quasi-experimental study with pre and post-design was conducted from May 2019 to June 2020 among students in public secondary schools and their parents with the study group in Makurdi and the control group in Gboko Local Government Areas in Benue State. The study objective was to determine the effect of the study intervention (training) on parents' discussions on ASRH with their adolescents and the effect on parents' knowledge. An interviewer-administered instrument was used to collect data from 250 parents and 250 adolescents each in the study and control group. The training was given after the first phase of data collection to only parents in the study group. Post-intervention data were collected after 3 months from both study and control groups which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests at P=0.05. The ASRH knowledge was assessed among the adolescents and parents via an 18-point knowledge scale and questions on ASRH knowledge in the questionnaire. Knowledge scores <9, >9-18 were categorized as poor and good, respectively for both parents and adolescents. Results: The mean age of the adolescents was 15.15±1.82 years (study group) and 15.37±1.78 years (control group) while the parents' mean ages were 43.96±10.99 years (study group) and 45.51±9.32 years (control group). Parent's knowledge scores had a statistically significant difference post-intervention (ꭓ2 = 4.620, p = 0.032, and ꭓ2 = 17.997). There was an increase from 85.9% at pre-intervention to 99.2% post-intervention in parents' discussions on ASRH among the participants in the study group whereas there was no statistically significant difference in knowledge in the control group. Conclusion: There is a positive effect of parental training on a parent-adolescent discussion about Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and improvement in parents' knowledge in Benue State Nigeria as proven by this study.