FACTORS AFFECTING DISSEMINATION OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION TO ADOLESCENTS IN APATA COMMUNITY BY THEIR PARENTS

Abstract

Family life education is a process of imparting factual knowledge on developmental characteristics, relationships with the opposite sex, preparation for parenthood and prevention of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. In traditional African homes, parents impart knowledge on relationships with the opposite sex to their children, but with urbanisation, and the subsequent reduction in effectiveness of traditional social restraints, most adolescents are exposed to the risks of unwanted, premarital/ pregnancy, abortion and its complications, and sexually transmitted diseases because there is minimal or even no parent-child communication on sexual matters. This study intended to find out factors that affect dissemination of family life education to adolescents of the Apata community in the city of Ibadan by their parents. Apata is a suburban community with an estimated population of 43,600 inhabitants. Three hundred parents with adolescent children were chosen for interview from 300 of the approximately 1,900 residential houses in Apata using a systematic sample of every sixth house. ln houses where there was more than one family with an adolescent, interviewees were chosen by balloting. Interviewing took place between August and September, 1991 with the aid of structured questionnaires which had been pre-tested in another. similar section of Ibadan. A final sample of 253 parents

were interviewed. Although there was a high refusal rate, those who refused differed from the responders on only one demographic characteristic: they were older. A twelve-point Family Life Communication Score (FLCS) was constructed based on parents' reports of discussing the following six topics: growth and development, pregnancy and reproduction, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, preparation for parenthood and contraceptives. The most commonly discussed topics were growth and development (83%), pregnancy (69%) and abortion (59%). Mothers most often initiated these discussions. Mean FLCS was significantly higher in families where the father was 60 years old or older but mothers' age did not make a difference. No significant difference was discerned concerning family religion, type of marriage or tribe. In homes where the father had more formal education, mean FLCS was significantly higher. The same trend was visible for mothers. While mothers' occupation was not associated with mean FLCS, homes where fathers were retired, civil servants or professionals, has significantly higher mean scores. The study has shown that while most parents discuss with their adolescent on family life and sexuality, the level of communication could be improved. Recommendations are made to provide support and encouragement to parents in their educational roles.