Parent-Child Communication and Adolescent Sexual Behaviour among the Yoruba Ethno-cultural group of Nigeria

Abstract

Adolescents' sexual behaviour has become a global reproductive health concern especially in the developing countries. Undoubtedly, Parent-Child communication remains a vital means by which parents transmit cultural values and monitor the sexual behaviour of their children.  Since the extent of the qualitative manner in which parents are involved in their children’s lives are critical factors in the prevention of sexual risk-taking behaviour among adolescents. This paper investigated the characteristics pattern and how the quality of communications processes among the dyads of parents and their adolescent children influence adolescent sexual behaviour among the Yoruba Ethno-cultural group of Nigeria. The sample consisted of 588 adolescents between the age range of 12 and 22. The study found that a higher percentage of the males (79.3%) agreed that their first sexual experience was by choice while (88.9%) of their females counterparts claimed that they were forced into their first sexual debut. It was further revealed that irrespective of gender and sexual experience of respondents the quality of parent-child communication on sexual matters was rated as poor and inadequate among the Yoruba traditional society of Nigeria. A clarion call to all stakeholders was advocated on   promoting positive parent-child family interaction as a strategy for breaking the cultural stereotype inhibiting open and receptive parent-child sexual communication for raising sexually healthy adolescents.