Socio-cultural factors affecting parentadolescent communication on sexuality in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

Parents have the responsibility to teach their adolescent children how to deal with sexual problems confronting them by educating them on what they need to do to avoid risky sexual behaviours. This study explored the socio-cultural factors affecting parents’ role in educating their young children on sex and sexuality. The study used an exploratory descriptive qualitative design and employed focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews to explore the socio-cultural factors that affect parents’ presentation on sexuality to adolescents. Thirty-four parents made up of two mothers’ groups, one fathers’ group and a mixed group (mothers and fathers) took part in the FGDs. In-depth inte rviews were conducted with ten parents who were not part of the FGDs. The data was transcribed and analysed manually. The findings of this study indicated that parents blamed cultural taboos for preventing them from discussing sexuality with adolescents. Parents however supported school sex education for their children and indicated that it would benefit adolescents whose parents could not discuss sexual issues with them. Parents proposed that the school should involve them in school sexual education for them to be acquainted with what the children are taught in school in order to complement it at home. All the parents were worried about the negative influence that the media have on adolescents. In spite of obvious impediments to discussions on sexuality with adolescents, parents saw the need to discuss sexuality with adolescents because of the benefits of such education.