Parents' and Teachers' Communication About HIV and Sex in Relation to the Timing of Sexual Initiation Among Young Adolescents in Tanzania

Kilonzo, Gad P.

Parents' and Teachers' Communication About HIV and Sex in Relation to the Timing of Sexual Initiation Among Young Adolescents in Tanzania

dc.contributor.author	Kilonzo, Gad P.
dc.date.accessioned	2020-07-15T10:36:22Z
dc.date.available	2020-07-15T10:36:22Z
dc.date.issued	2008
dc.description.abstract	Aims: Early sexual debut is associated with increased HIV risk among young adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Our study examines parents' and teachers' communication about sexual matters in relation to the timing of sexual initiation among students aged 12—14 years old in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: Virgin primary school students were followed prospectively for 6 months to assess sexual initiation. Socio-demographic, psychosocial, and behavioural factors were assessed with a structured questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Of 2477 adolescents, 26.9% of students reported communicating about HIV and sex with parents and 35.6% communicated with teachers. Communication with teachers about HIV and sex was associated with delayed sexual initiation among adolescents after adjusting for potential confounding factors (OR=0.59, 95%CI=0.40—0.89, p=0.01). However, parental communication was not associated with the timing of sexual initiation. The perception that most peers are sexually active was a significant predictor of early sexual debut (test for linear trend, p=0.002). Students who do not live with a biological mother were marginally more likely to initiate sex compared to those who live with a biological mother (OR=1.39, 95%CI=0.97—1.99, p=0.08). Conclusions: Teachers can play an effective role in discussing HIV and sex with young adolescents. Our study highlights the necessity of responsible adults discussing sexual matters with young adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. More research is required to better understand the role of parental communication about sexual matters and strategies for improving the quality of parental communication.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Kawai, K., Kaaya, S.F., Kajula, L., Mbwambo, J., Kilonzo, G.P. and Fawzi, W.W., 2008. Parents' and teachers' communication about HIV and sex in relation to the timing of sexual initiation among young adolescents in Tanzania. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 36(8), pp.879-888.	en_US
dc.identifier.other	https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494808094243
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/516
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.publisher	Scandinavian Journal of Public Health	en_US
dc.subject	Parents' and teachers' communication	en_US
dc.subject	HIV and sex in relation	en_US
dc.subject	Tanzania	en_US
dc.title	Parents' and Teachers' Communication About HIV and Sex in Relation to the Timing of Sexual Initiation Among Young Adolescents in Tanzania	en_US
dc.type	Article	en_US