A qualitative assessment of the influence of family dynamics on adolescents’ sexual risk behaviour in a migration-affected community

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Adolescents may be known to take risks, but they may also conform to societal norms if they are given proper guidance, implying that there is a need for proper monitoring. This qualitative study explores the influence of family dynamics on adolescents sexual risk behaviour within a migration affected community.Method: Using thematic analysis, we processed data collected from 13 adolescents and 10 parents.Results: The themes generated from our data include the following, “Household poverty”, “Family conflicts”, “Lack of discipline”, “Parent-child closeness”, “Generational gap between adolescents and their parents” and “Lack of sex education”. Our study found that financial constrain was a major problem in this community, the impact of this was worse felt among adolescents who lived by themselves. In addition, some parents were delinquent, distant or detached from their adolescents. We also found evidence to suggest that couple conflict was a common occurrence, and this had negative influence on adolescent well-being and there sexual behaviour.Conclusion: In view of the deepening crisis of early sexual engagement among adolescents and the accompanying risk of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, it is imperative to foster adolescent friendly households where the parents/caregivers are empowered to support their adolescents.

KEYWORDS:

• The family
• family dynamics
• adolescents
• sexual risk behaviour
• migration-affected communities

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Authors’ contributions

All authors listed in this paper contributed to the drafting of the manuscript, they also read and endorsed the final manuscript. Felix Chima Anyanwu (FCA), Henry Abayomi Akinsola (HAA), Augustine Kwame Tugli (AKT), Nkechi Obisie-Nmehielle (NON).

Implication

Our findings suggest that the factors associated with sexual risk behaviour are multifaceted and therefore, a multipronged approach is needed to improve the health outcomes of adolescents in migration-affected communities. Therefore, it is imperative that community-specific studies like the index study are harnessed in order to develop evidence-based public health programmes to support adolescents and help them make informed choices regarding their sexual health.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was supported by the Research and Publications Committee (RPC) of the University of Venda and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Notes on contributors

Felix Chima Anyanwu

F C Anyanwu, (MBBS; MPH; PhD), is a Physician with special interest in Public Health research. He is the founder and director of ARCD (Applied Research for Community Development), a Research based company located in Limpopo, South Africa.

Henry Abayomi Akinsola

H A Akinsola, PhD, is an Emeritus Professor of Public Health. He is currently a Professor of Public Health at Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Augustine Kwame Tugli

A K Tugli, PhD, is a Professor of Public Health affiliated to the Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Limpopo, South Africa.

Nkechi Obisie-Nmehielle

N Obisie-Nmehielle, MSc, MPH, is the Regional Research Officer (SLWOP) at the International Organization for Migration, Pretoria, South Africa. She is currently a PhD candidate at the Population and Demography Programmer, North West University, Mafikeng, South Africa.