title: Adolescent experiences of HIV and sexual health communication with parents and caregivers in Soweto, South Africa.
abstract: Communication about sexual health between parents and adolescents has been shown to have a protective influence on behaviours that reduce the risk of HIV transmission. This study explored experiences of HIV and sexual health (HSH) communication between parents and/or caregivers and adolescents in an urban HIV-endemic community in Southern Africa. Adolescents (aged 14-19 years) were recruited from the Kganya Motsha Adolescent Centre and the Kliptown community between June and August 2009. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions (n=10 adolescents) and semi-structured interviews (n=31 adolescents). In total, 41 adolescents (56% female, 44% male, mean age=17.2) participated in the study. Adolescent participants identified emotional, physical and sociocultural barriers to initiating HSH communication with parents and caregivers including fear of verbal warnings, threats and physical assault. Adolescents also expressed a desire for mentorship around HSH communication beyond abstinence and peer-based information. Public health interventions need to support adolescents' access to bi-directional HSH information from adult mentors that address the lived realities of adolescents beyond expectations of abstinence.
authors.affiliation: a MPH, is a graduate at the School of Population and Public Health , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.
authors.forename: Christine N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Soon
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaida
authors.forename: Busi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nkala
authors.forename: Janan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cescon
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Cari L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D058015:Health Communication; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D012736:Sex Education; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Afrique du Sud; HIV prevention; South Africa; adolescent; communication parent–adolescent; parent–adolescent communication; prévention du VIH; qualitative; santé sexuelle; sexual health