EFFECTS OF TRAINING ON KNOWLEDGE AND QUALITY OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR ADOLESCENTS IN TWO COMMUNITIES IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) problems are emerging public health concerns in Nigeria; yet they can be tackled through Parent-Adolescent intervention. However, paucity of information exists on knowledge and quality of parent-adolescent communication. This study was, therefore, designed to evaluate the effects of training on knowledge and quality relating to ARH communication between parents and their adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental study was conducted in Egbeda and Ido Local Government Areas, which were randomly selected and allocated into Experimental Group (EG) and Control Group (CG), respectively. A three-stage random sampling technique was used to select 109 Parent-Adolescent Pairs (PAP) from compounds, houses and households in EG and 106 PAP from CG. Interviewer-administered instruments were used to collect data from the parents and adolescents at baseline. Both instruments included a 30-point knowledge scale and questions on ARH practices. The instrument for adolescents contained an additional 15-point Perceived Quality of ARH Communication (PQARHC) scale. Knowledge scores ≤10, >10-20 and >20 were categorised as poor, fair and good, respectively for both parents and adolescents. The PQARHC scores ≤5, >5-10 and >10 were categorised as poor, fair and good, respectively. Baseline results were used to design a training intervention for parents. The intervention enhanced the capacity of parents in EG to discuss ARH issues with their adolescents. Parents in CG were provided leaflet on personal hygiene. A post-intervention survey was conducted among the two groups. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Students’ t-tests at p=0.05. Ages of adolescents were 13.9±2.4 (EG), 13.9±2.3 (CG) years while parents’ ages were 43.6±9.5 and 42.6±8.5 years, respectively. Parents knowledge scores at baseline were 21.5±3.4 and 21.3±3.3 for EG and CG, respectively with no significant difference. Knowledge of EG and CG at post-intervention were 27.0±1.9 and 23.1±3.0, respectively with a significant difference. At baseline, adolescents in EG and CG whose parents ever discussed ARH issues with them were 20.2% and 21.7%, respectively. At post-intervention, all the adolescents in EG (100.0%) and 4.7% in the control reportedly received ARH information from their parents. Adolescents’ knowledge increased from 14.7±5.5 at baseline, to 22.9±1.6, significantly, at post-intervention in EG; no such difference was noted among CG. Parents in EG and CG with good knowledge were 84.4 and 84.0%, respectively with no significant difference at baseline. Significantly, more parents in EG (100.0%) than control (90.7%) had good knowledge at post-intervention. Adolescent respondents with good knowledge in EG increase significantly from 8.3% to 92.9% at post-intervention. The proportion with good knowledge at the baseline and post-intervention among CG were 6.6% and 22.1% with significant difference. Adolescent in EG whose PQARHC with their parents was adjudged to be of good quality were 17.4% and 100.0%, respectively with significantly difference at post-intervention. Among CG, the values at baseline and post-intervention were 20.8% and 4.7%, respectively with significant difference. Training was effective in improving knowledge and quality of communication among parents and their adolescents in Egbeda Local Government Area. Policy intervention and social-marketing strategies are recommended for institutionalising and scaling up the intervention.