Challenges on sexual health communication with secondary school learners, Limpopo province

A conversation about sexuality is most likely to encourage healthy and positive sexual practices while reducing risky sexual behaviour among adolescents. Traditionally, sexuality is discussed in hushed tones in proverbs and is reserved for adults. On the other hand, adolescents must be well informed about their sexuality to assist them to make informed decisions about their sexual behaviour.Objectives: The study determined parents' views regarding challenges of sexual health communication among secondary school learners in the Limpopo province.Method: A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive and contextual approach was employed for the study. Fifty-six parents were purposively selected, resulting in five focus group discussions that had 8­12 members. One central question was asked, and based on the participants' responses, probing questions followed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Trustworthiness and ethical considerations were ensured.Results: Three themes, namely communication concerns, role shifting in imparting sexuality education and poor parent­child relationships, and eight subthemes emerged from the data.Conclusion: This study identified that communication concerns influence parent­child dialogue on sexuality education. Therefore, there is a need to address factors hindering communication such as cultural barriers, role shifting in imparting sexuality education and poor parent­child relationships. This study suggests that parents should be empowered in dealing with children's sexuality.Contribution: Parents should be equipped with reproductive knowledge to enable them to talk freely about sexuality with their children. This should be complemented with broader programmes aimed at promoting sexual health education within the traditional family institution

Risky sexual behaviours and associated factors among people with disabilities in dessie city.

Background: Despite the assumptions that people with disabilities are considered sexually inactive, this group of people is likely to engage in sexual risk behaviours. People with disabilities are the neglected group of population; investigating their sexual behaviour helps to design interventions by the local government and concerned bodies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the prevalence and factors associated with risky sexual behaviours among people with disabilities. Methods: Institutional based Cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013. All disabled individuals who were enrolled as a member of the disability associations in the city were included in the study. Data were collected by pre-tested structured interview questionnaires by trained data collectors. The data were coded, entered, cleaned and analyzed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis with SPSS version 16 soft ware package. Results: About 301(73.1%) of the respondents were sexually debuted, of which 153(50.8%) were sexually debuted before the age of 18 years and 166(55.1%) reported that they have had more than one sexual partner in the last twelve months. Besides, 32.5% of the study participants reported to have risky sexual behaviours. The age of respondents was a statistically significant predictors of sexual behavior with [(AOR=1.5, 95%CI:0.88-2.57), (AOR=1.54, 95%CI:0.68-3.52) and (AOR=3.1, 95%CI:1.64-5.87)]. Drinking alcohol was another predictors of sexual behaviour where [(AOR=1.72, 95%CI:1.10-2.70)]. Besides educational status and family size were other significant predictors of risky sexual behaviour on multivariable logistic regression with [(AOR= 3.14, 95%CI:1.02- 9.74), AOR=6.31, 95%CI:1.78-22.31), AOR=3.30, 95%CI:1.13- 9.68), and AOR=3.28, 95%CI:1.07-10.10)] and [AOR=1.73, 95%CI:1.10-2.70)] respectively. Conclusion: People with disabilities were engaged in sexual risk behaviour. Age, alcohol use, educational status, and family size were significant predictors of risky sexual behaviours among people with disabilities on which interventions need to be done by concerned bodies on this vulnerable group of people, especially by labor and social affairs of Ethiopia.

Interpersonal competence and sex risk behaviours among Jamaican adolescents / Competencia interpersonal y comportamientos de riesgo sexual entre los adolescentes Jamaicanos

OBJECTIVE: Of particular public health concern to the Jamaican authorities is the consistently high numbers of new HIV infections among adolescents and young adults. The thrust in HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns has largely been toward an increase in knowledge and attitudes as opposed to personality variables. However, it is widely believed that persons with high interpersonal skills may be less likely to engage in sex risk behaviours. This study investigated interpersonal competence as a personality characteristic associated with sexual risk-taking among Jamaican adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 500 adolescents, ages 13−18 years (250 males and 250 females) from nine randomly selected secondary government schools within Kingston and St Andrew was used. The sample ensured maximum variation in age groups. The BarOn EQ-i:YV(S) was utilized to provide a measure of interpersonal competence and the Sex Risk Scale from the Adolescent Risk Inventory acted as a measure of sex risk behaviours. The Spearman's rho correlational statistic was used to investigate the hypothesis. RESULTS: Of the students surveyed, 58.6% reported that they were sexually active; 31.8% reported having multiple sexual partners and 28.2% reporting inconsistent condom use. A significant, inverse relationship was observed between interpersonal competence and sex risk behaviours (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This research provided evidence that adolescents with high interpersonal skills are less likely to participate in risky sexual behaviours. Therefore, interventions aimed at reducing risky adolescent sexual practices might benefit from the inclusion of strategies to build interpersonal skills.

OBJETIVO: De interés particular para las autoridades jamaicanas de la salud pública es el número consistentemente alto de nuevas infecciones de VIH entre adolescentes y adultos jóvenes. El desempeño principal de las campañas de prevención del VIH/SIDA ha estado dirigido en gran parte hacia el aumento de conocimientos y actitudes, en vez de a variables de la personalidad. Sin embargo, existe la creencia ampliamente extendida de que las personas con buen desarrollo de sus habilidades interpersonales, serán menos propensas a involucrarse en conductas de riesgo sexual. Este estudio investigó la competencia interpersonal como una característica de personalidad asociada con riesgos sexuales entre adolescentes jamaicanos. MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal de 500 adolescentes, con edades entre 13−18 años (250 varones, y 250 hembras) de nueve escuelas secundarias del gobierno, seleccionadas al azar en las áreas de Kingston y Saint Andrew. La muestra garantizó una máxima variación en los grupos de edad. Se usó el test BarOn EQ-i:YV (S) para obtener una medida de la competencia interpersonal, en tanto que la Escala de Riesgo Sexual del Inventario de Riesgo Adolescente actuó como una medida de los comportamientos de riesgo sexual. Las estadísticas correlaciónales de Spearman fueron utilizadas para investigar la hipótesis. RESULTADOS: De los estudiantes encuestados, 58.6% informó estar sexualmente activos; 31.8% informó tener múltiples parejas sexuales, y el 28.2%, reportó un uso sistemático del condón. Se observó una relación inversa significativa entre la competencia interpersonal y las conductas de riesgo sexual (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIÓN: Esta investigación proporcionó evidencia de que los adolescentes con alto desarrollo de habilidades interpersonales son menos propensos a participar en conductas sexuales riesgosas. Por lo tanto, las intervenciones destinadas a reducir las prácticas sexuales adolescentes riesgosas, podrían beneficiarse con la inclusión de las estrategias para desarrollar las habilidades interpersonales.