title: Parents' perceptions of timing of initiation of sexuality discussion with adolescents in Anambra State, South Eastern Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed at determining the perception of the timing and practice of sexuality discussion among parents in South Eastern Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, descriptive, community-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out in 3 randomly selected Local Government Areas in Anambra State, South Eastern Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study participants were parents with adolescent children resident in the study areas for at least 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most parents opined that sexuality discussion should be initiated after puberty. Only 20% of them discussed reproductive health issues often with their adolescents, while another 20% never discussed such issues with their adolescent children. Topics most commonly discussed bordered on the adverse consequences of sex rather than measures for preventing them. About half of parents were willing to discuss contraception with their adolescent child. Predictors of parent-child communication were age, gender, and educational status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Common reasons for low parental involvement in sexuality discussions were due to their lack of capacity and the perception that discussing such issues before puberty is ill timed. Therefore, measures should be taken to improve the capacity of parents to engage in such conversations to provide sexuality information to their teens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Emelumadu
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Ezeama
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Ifeadike
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ubajaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: P O U
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Adogu
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Umeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: U N
authors.initials: UN
authors.lastname: Nwamoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Ukegbu
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. Electronic address: u2onyeonoro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: U U
authors.initials: UU
authors.lastname: Onyeonoro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012736:Sex Education; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; Communication; Parents; Perception; Sexuality; South Eastern Nigeria; Timely; Timing