Factors associated with adolescent–parent communication of reproductive  health issues among high school and preparatory students in Boditi town, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of secondary and preparatory students in Boditi town, Wolaita Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia; March 2015 (n=740)

Characteristics	Number	Percentage
Sex
Male	385	52
Female	355	48
Age (years)
<15	282	38.1
15–19	432	58.4
20–24	26	3.5
Grade
Grade 9	230	31.1
Grade 10	266	35.9
Grade 11	112	15.1
Grade 12	132	17.8
Ethnicity
Wolaita	685	92.6
Other^a	55	7.4
Religion
Protestant	465	62.8
Other^b	275	37.2
Living arrangement
Living with both parents	588	79.5
Living with mother only	51	6.9
Living with father only	20	2.7
Living with friend	28	3.8
Living alone	19	2.6
Living with relative	34	4.6
Marital status of parents
Together	635	85.8
Separated	27	3.6
Divorced	18	2.4
Widowed	60	8.1
Family size
Less than three	43	5.8
Four to six	417	56.4
Greater than seven	280	37.8
Parent income (n=82)
<500 birr	5	0.7
501–1,000 birr	6	0.8
>1,001 birr	71	9.6
Mother’s educational status
Illiterate	188	25.4
Able to read and write only	183	24.7
Completed primary education	133	18
completed secondary education	77	10.4
Above secondary education	159	21.5
Father’s educational status
Illiterate	113	15.3
Able to read and write only	156	21.1
completed primary education	101	13.6
completed secondary education	89	12
Above secondary education	281	38
Occupation of mother
Housewife	300	40.5
Private employee	43	5.8
Government employee	137	18.5
Merchant	193	26.1
Other	67	9.1
Occupation of father
Private employee	86	11.6
Government employee	242	32.7
Merchant	160	21.6
Farmer	197	26.6
Other	55	7.5

Notes:

a Kambata Tambaro, Gammogofa, etc;

b Catholic, Orthodox Christian.

Abbreviation: SNNPR, Southern Nations Nationalities and People Region State.

Figure 1 Diagrammatic presentation of knowledge of secondary and preparatory students on sexually transmitted infections.

Notes: Students from Boditi town, Wolaita Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia; March 2015 (n=740).

Abbreviations: SNNPR, Southern Nations Nationalities and People Region State; LGV, lymphogranuloma venereum. 

Figure 2 Diagrammatic presentation of knowledge of secondary and preparatory students on contraceptive methods.

Notes: Students from Boditi town, Wolaita Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia; March 2015 (n=740).

Abbreviations: SNNPR, Southern Nations Nationalities and People Region State; IUCD, intrauterine contraceptive device.

Table 2 Secondary and preparatory school students from Boditi town, Wolaita Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia, and with whom they had discussions of different topics of reproductive health; March 2015

Topic of discussion	Discussed N (%)	With whom they had discussion
	Yes	Father^a	Mother^a	Friend^a	Sister^a	Brother^a	Other^a
contraception	439 (59.3)	145 (33)	171 (39)	195 (44.4)	76 (17.3)	80 (18.2)	3 (0.7)
STIs/HIV/AIDS	496 (67)	157 (31.7)	161 (32.5)	271 (54.6)	96 (19.4)	120 (24.2)	3 (0.6)
sexual intercourse	373 (50.4)	66 (17.7)	97 (26)	232 (62.2)	51 (13.7)	65 (17.4)	2 (0.5)
Unwanted pregnancy	411 (55.5)	91 (22.1)	109 (26.5)	213 (51.8)	68 (16.5)	85 (20.7)	4 (1)
Premarital sex	385 (52)	73 (19)	100 (26)	210 (54.5)	61 (15.8)	63 (16.4)	3 (0.8)
condom	360 (48.6)	62 (17.2)	67 (18.6)	225 (62.5)	43 (11.9)	72 (20)	5 (1.4)
Puberty	381 (51.5)	98 (25.7)	103 (27)	213 (55.9)	68 (17.8)	87 (22.8)	1 (0.3)
Menses	391 (52.8)	74 (18.9)	115 (29)	180 (46)	76 (19.4)	47 (12)	2 (0.5)

Notes:

a Multiple responses were possible. Data presented as n (%).

Abbreviations: SNNPR, Southern Nations Nationalities and People Region State; STIs, sexually transmitted diseases.

Table 3 Major reasons by the secondary and preparatory students from Boditi administrative town, Wolaita Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia for not discussing reproductive health matters with parents; March 2015

Topic of discussion	Discussed N (%)	Reasons for not discussing
		Culture^a	Shame^a	Lack of knowledge^a	Lack of communication skill^a	Difficult to discuss^a	Other^a
contraception	301 (40.7)	54 (17.9)	39 (13)	45 (15)	44 (14.6)	26 (8.6)	41 (13.6)
STIs/HIV/AIDS	244 (33)	41 (16.8)	26 (10.7)	35 (14.3)	38 (15.6)	28 (11.5)	21 (8.6)
sexual intercourse	367 (49.6)	54 (14.7)	78 (21.3)	43 (11.7)	52 (14.2)	40 (10.9)	35 (9.5)
Unwanted pregnancy	329 (44.5)	50 (15.2)	44 (13.4)	33 (10)	49 (14.9)	28 (8.5)	37 (11.2)
Premarital sex	355 (48)	52 (14.6)	65 (18.3)	59 (16.6)	39 (11)	36 (10.1)	38 (10.7)
condoms	380 (51.4)	71 (18.7)	79 (20.8)	44 (11.6)	40 (10.5)	32 (8.4)	38 (10)
Puberty	355 (48.5)	78 (21.7)	49 (3.6)	59 (16.4)	44 (12.3)	35 (9.7)	28 (7.8)
Menses	349 (47.2)	39 (11.2)	69 (19.8)	42 (12)	27 (7.7)	37 (10.6)	35 (10)

Notes:

a Multiple responses were possible. Data presented as n (%).

Abbreviations: SNNPR, Southern Nations Nationalities and People Region State; STIs, sexually transmitted diseases.

Table 4 Bivariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with communication of RH issues between parents and secondary and preparatory schools students from Boditi town, Wolaita Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia; March 2015

Variables	Discussed RH matters		OR (95% CI)
	Yes	No	COR (95% CI)	AOR (95% CI)
Age (years)
<15	112	170	0.77 (0.34–1.72)	0.78 (0.30–2.02)
15–19	177	255	0.81 (0.36–1.80)	0.70 (0.29–1.69)
20–24	12	14	1	1
Sex
Male	141	244	1	1
Female	160	195	1.42 (1.05–1.90)	1.42 (1.03–1.95)
Grade
Grade 9	81	149	1	1
Grade 10	121	145	1.53 (1.06–2.20)	1.62 (1.04–2.50)
Grade 11	48	64	1.38 (0.87–2.20)	1.29 (0.74–2.27)
Grade 12	51	81	1.15 (0.74–1.80)	1.20 (0.67–2.14)
Living arrangement
With both parents	249	339	1.4 1(0.97–2)	1.20 (0.76–1.89)
With others^a	52	100	1
Family size
Less than three	13	30	0.60 (0.30–1.20)	0.76 (0.35–1.65)
Four to six	170	247	0.94 (0.70–1.28)	1.05 (0.75–1.47)
Greater than seven	118	162	1	1
Mother’s educational status
Illiterate	85	103	1	1
Able to read and write only	71	112	0.76 (0.50–1.16)	0.56 (0.34–0.91)
Completed primary education	69	64	1.30 (0.83–2.00)	0.92 (0.55–1.56)
Completed secondary education	24	53	0.55 (0.31–0.96)	0.43 (0.22–0.8)
Above secondary education	52	107	0.58 (0.38–0.91)	0.37 (0.20–0.72)
Father’s educational status
Illiterate	46	67	1	1
Able to read and write only	70	86	1.18 (0.72–1.93)	1.60 (0.91–2.82)
Completed primary education	40	61	0.95 (0.55–1.65)	1.26 (0.66–2.39)
Completed secondary education	40	49	1.18 (0.67–2.08)	1.48 (0.75–2.90)
Above secondary education	105	176	0.86 (0.55–1.35)	1.12 (0.60–2.07)
Occupation of mother
Housewife	127	173	1.85 (1.04–3.30)	1.15 (0.60–2.22)
Private employee	18	25	1.82 (0.81–4)	1.54 (0.62–3.81)
Government employee	58	79	1.85 (0.98 –3.48)	2 (0.97–4.18)
Merchant	79	114	1.75 (0.95–3.20)	1.24 (0.62–2.47)
Other	19	48	1	1
Occupation of father
Private employee	43	43	1.75 (0.87–3.50)	0.67 (0.03–11.9)
Government employee	95	147	1.13 (0.61–2.07)	0.47 (0.28–8.29)
Merchant	58	102	1 (0.52–1.88)	0.39 (0.02–6.86)
Farmer	85	112	1.32 (0.71–2.46)	0.47 (0.02–8.27)
Other	20	35	1	1
Knowledgeable on RH matters
Yes	166	194	1.55 (1.15–2.08)	1.37 (1–1.90)
No	135	245	1	1
Perceived importance of discussion on RH
Yes	270	327	2.98 (1.94–4.58)	3.24 (2–5.18)
No	31	112	1	1

Notes: Significant values are given in bold font;

a uncle, aunt, grandfather, and grandmother.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio; COR, crude odds ratio; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; RH, reproductive health; SNNPR, Southern Nations Nationalities and People Region State.

Table S1 English version questionnaire; questionnaires on adolescents and parent communication on reproductive issues

I. Sociodemographic characteristics of 1dolescents (students) 1nd their p1rents
S No	Question	Response	Code
101	Age	years
102	Grade
103	Sex	Male	1
		Female	2
104	Religion	Orthodox christian	1
		Protestant	2
		Muslim	3
		Others	4
105	ethnicity	Wollaitta	1
		Silte	2
		Gurage	3
		Hadiya	4
		Amhara	5
		Oromia	6
		Other	7
106	Marital status of the mother and father	Together	1
		Separated	2
		Divorced	3
		Widowed	4
107	With whom are you living	Lives with father and mothers	1
		With mother only	2
		With father only	3
		With friend	4
		Living alone	5
		With relative	6
108	Family size
109	Parents income/month		1
		Don’t know	2
110	Mother’s educational status	Illiterate	1
		Read and write only	2
		Primary school	3
		Secondary school	4
		Diploma	5
		Degree	6
		No mother	7
111	Father’s educational status	Illiterate	1
		Read and write only	2
		Primary school	3
		Secondary school	4
		Diploma	5
		Degree	6
		No father	7
112	Occupation of the mother	Housewife	1
		Employed (private)	2
		Employed (govt)	3
		Small-scale merchants	4
		Farmers	5
		No mothers	6
		Others	7
113	Occupation of the father	Employed (private)	1
		Employed (govt)	2
		Small-scale merchants	3
		Farmers	4
		No father	5
		Others	6
II. Knowledge on major selected reproductive health
201	Do you know when menstrual cycle starts?	Yes	1
	If your answer is no skip to Q 203	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
202	If yes at what age	Years
203	Do you know STD?	Yes	1
	If your answer is no skip to Q205	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
204	If yes, which one do you know	Chancroid	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Syphilis	2
		Gonorrhea	3
		LGV	4
		HIV/AIDS	5
		Herpes simplex	6
		Others	7
205	Do you know contraceptive method?	Yes	1
	If your answer is no skip to Q301	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
206	If yes which one do you know?	Pill	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Depo-Provera	2
		Implant	3
		IUCD	4
		Condom	5
		Abstinence	6
III. Communication of adolescents and parents reproductive health
301	Is it important to discuss (communicate) reproductive health issues with parents?	Yes	1
		No	2
302	Have you ever discussed about contraceptives?	Yes	1
	If your answer is yes skip to Q304	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
303	If you don’t discuss contraception with parents, what are the reasons?	Culturally unacceptable	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Shame	2
		Lack of knowledge	3
		Lack of communication skill	4
		Difficult and embarrassing	5
		Don’t remember	6
		Others	7
304	If yes with whom?	Father	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Mother	2
		Peer (friends)	3
		Sisters	4
		Brothers	5
		Others	6
305	How frequent have you discussed about contraception?	Very often	1
		Often	2
		Sometimes	3
306	Have you ever discussed STD/HIV	Yes	1
	If your answer is yes skip to Q308	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
307	If you don’t discuss on STD/HIV with parents, what are the reasons?	Culturally unacceptable	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Shame	2
		Lack of knowledge	3
		Lack of communication skill	4
		Difficult and embarrassing	5
		Don’t remember	6
		Others	7
III. Communication of adolescents and parents reproductive health
S No	Question	Response	Code
308	If yes with whom?	Father	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Mother	2
		Peer (friends)	3
		Sisters	4
		Brothers	5
		Others	6
309	How frequent have you discussed about STD/HIV?	Very often	1
		Often	2
		Sometimes	3
310	Have you ever discussed sexual intercourse?	Yes	1
	If your answer is yes skip to Q312	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
311	If you don’t discuss on sexual intercourse with parents, what are the reasons?	culturally unacceptable	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Shame	2
		Lack of knowledge	3
		Lack of communication skill	4
		Difficult and embarrassing	5
		Don’t remember	6
		Other	7
312	If yes with whom?	Father	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Mother	2
		Peer (friends)	3
		Sisters	4
		Brothers	5
		Others	6
313	How frequent have you discussed about sexual intercourse?	Very often	1
		Often	2
		Sometimes	3
314	Have you ever discussed unwanted pregnancy?	Yes	1
	If your answer is yes skip to Q316	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
315	If you don’t discuss on unwanted pregnancy with parents, what are the reasons?	Culturally unacceptable	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Shame	2
		Lack of knowledge	3
		Lack of communication skill	4
		Difficult and embarrassing	5
		Don’t remember	6
		Other	7
316	If yes with whom?	Father	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Mother	2
		Peer (friends)	3
		Sisters	4
		Brothers	5
		Others	6
317	How frequent have you discussed about unwanted pregnancy?	Very often	1
		Often	2
		Sometimes	3
318	Have you ever discussed not having sex until marriage?	Yes	1
	If your answer is yes skip to Q320	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
319	If you don’t discuss on not having sex until marriage with parents, what are the reasons?	Culturally unacceptable	1
		Shame	2
	(circle all answers you think)	Lack of knowledge	3
		Lack of communication skill	4
		Difficult and embarrassing	5
		Don’t remember	6
		Other	7
S No	Question	Response	Code
320	If yes with whom?	Father	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Mother	2
		Peer (friends)	3
		Sisters	4
		Brothers	5
		Others	6
32I	How frequent have you discussed about on not having sex until marriage?	Very often	1
		Often	2
		Sometimes	3
322	Have you ever discussed condoms?	Yes	1
	If your answer is yes skip to Q324	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
323	If you don’t discuss on condoms with parents, what are the reasons?	Culturally unacceptable	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Shame	2
		Lack of knowledge	3
		Lack of communication skill	4
		Difficult and embarrassing	5
		Don’t remember	6
		Other	7
324	If yes with whom?	Father	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Mother	2
		Peer (friends)	3
		Sisters	4
		Brothers	5
		Others	6
325	How frequent have you discussed condoms?	Very often	1
		Often	2
		Sometimes	3
326	Have you ever discussed physical and psychological changes on puberty?	Yes	1
	If your answer is yes skip to Q328	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
327	If you don’t discuss on physical and psychological changes on puberty with	Culturally unacceptable	1
	parents, what are the reasons?	Shame	2
	(circle all answers you think)	Lack of knowledge	3
		Lack of communication skill	4
		Difficult and embarrassing	5
		Don’t remember	6
		Other	7
328	If yes with whom?	Father	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Mother	2
		Peer (friends)	3
		Sisters	4
		Brothers	5
		Others	6
329	How frequent have you discussed physical and psychological changes on puberty?	Very often	1
		Often	2
		Sometimes	3
330	Have you ever discussed menstrual period?	Yes	1
	If your answer is yes skip to Q332	No	2
		Don’t remember	3
331	If you don’t discuss on menstrual period with parents, what are the reasons?	Culturally unacceptable	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Shame	2
		Lack of knowledge	3
		Lack of communication skill	4
		Difficult and embarrassing	5
		Don’t remember	6
		Other	7
III. Communication of adolescents and parents reproductive health
S No	Question	Response	Code
332	If yes with whom?	Father	1
	(circle all answers you think)	Mother	2
		Peer (friends)	3
		Sisters	4
		Brothers	5
		Others	6
333	How frequent have you discussed menstrual period?	Very often	1
		Often	2
		Sometimes	3
334	With whom are you comfortable to discuss reproductive health issue?	Father	1
		Mother	2
		Peer (friends)	3
		Sisters	4
		Brothers	5
		Others	6
335	Is your father open to discuss?	Yes	1
		No	2
		Don’t remember	3
336	Is your mother open to discuss?	Yes	1
		No	2
		Don’t remember	3

Abbreviations: S No, serial number; IUCD, intrauterine contraceptive device; STI, sexually transmitted infection; LGV, lymphogranuloma venereum.