Adolescents’ communication with parents, other adult family members and teachers on sexuality: effects of school-based interventions in South Africa and Tanzania

Type Journal Article - AIDS and Behavior
Title Adolescents’ communication with parents, other adult family members and teachers on sexuality: effects of school-based interventions in South Africa and Tanzania
Author(s)
Volume 19
Issue 12
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2015
Page numbers 2162-2176
URL http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10461-015-1019-9
Abstract
Cluster-randomized controlled trials were carried
out to examine effects on sexual practices of schoolbased
interventions among adolescents in three sites in subSaharan
Africa. In this publication, effects on communication
about sexuality with significant adults (including
parents) and such communication as a mediator of other
outcomes were examined. Belonging to the intervention
group was significantly associated with fewer reported
sexual debuts in Dar es Salaam only (OR 0.648). Effects on
communication with adults about sexuality issues were
stronger for Dar es Salaam than for the other sites. In Dar,
increase in communication with adults proved to partially
mediate associations between intervention and a number of
social cognition outcomes. The hypothesized mediational
effect of communication on sexual debut was not con-
firmed. Promoting intergenerational communication on
sexuality issues is associated with several positive outcomes
and therefore important. Future research should
search for mediating factors influencing behavior beyond
those examined in the present study.

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