Prevalence of communication between mothers and daughters on sexuality and associated factors in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria

Oluwadamilola A. Opawale; Victor J. Animasahun; Helena J. Chapman

doi:10.1515/ijamh-2016-0102

Article

Prevalence of communication between mothers and daughters on sexuality and associated factors in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria

Oluwadamilola A. Opawale , Victor J. Animasahun and Helena J. Chapman

Published/Copyright: January 7, 2017

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From the journal International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health Volume 30 Issue 4

Abstract

Background:

As adolescents transition from childhood to adulthood, effective mother-daughter communication on sexuality plays a role in reducing high-risk behaviours linked to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and early pregnancy and childbirth. The objective of the study was to examine the prevalence of mother-daughter communication on sexuality and associated factors in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria.

Methods:

Using multistage sampling, surveys were conducted using 234 female youth enrolled at a secondary school. The chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used to examine associations between categorical variables. The independent sample t-test was used to compare mean values of variables with reported evidence of mother-daughter communication on sexuality.

Results:

The mean age of respondents was 16+1.56 years. The majority (89.7%) had engaged in mother-daughter communication on sexuality, but three-quarters (80.8%) of the respondents could not freely discuss sexuality with their mothers. About one-third (31.6%) of the respondents reported at least one sexual encounter with the mean age of sexual debut of 14.23±2.12 years. Mother-daughter communication on sexuality was significantly associated with religion (p=0.047), mother’s age (p=0.019), who the respondents live with (p=0.029), mother’s highest educational status (p<0.001), age of sexual debut (p=0.030), and condom use (p<0.001), but not with freedom to discuss sexuality with their mother (p=0.552) or freedom to introduce male friends to their mother (p=0.077).

Conclusion:

Despite the high prevalence of mother-daughter communication on sexuality, mothers’ approach appeared unfriendly, as most girls could not freely discuss topics concerning sexuality with their mothers. Poor communication on sexuality was associated with sexual risk behaviours. Mothers should engage in adolescent-friendly transferring of knowledge on sexuality in order to reduce pregnancy rates and HIV transmission in female adolescents.

Keywords: adolescent; communication; Nigeria; reproductive health

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr O.O. Sholeye for the advisory and supervisory role played in the completion of this study.

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Funding: None.
Authors contributions: OAO and VJA designed, prepared and revised the manuscript. HJC prepared and revised the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

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Received: 2016-09-07

Accepted: 2016-10-19

Published Online: 2017-01-07

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2016-0102

Keywords for this article

adolescent; communication; Nigeria; reproductive health