ISSN 2360-7963
Abstract
Sexuality education which is learning that equips the youths with scientifically accurate, age – appropriate information to help them make healthy relationships, understand bodily anatomy and make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health is very vital in the life of every adolescent which this work sought to investigate. However, it remains a contentious issue in many societies with parental knowledge and practices significantly influencing adolescents’ access to comprehensive information. This study investigated parental knowledge and practice regarding sexuality education for adolescents in the Eziudo Community of Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed, involving 384 parents of adolescents aged 10 – 19 years, selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Epi Info version 7. Results showed that 46.09% of parents rated their knowledge of adolescent sexuality as good or excellent while 18.23% reported poor knowledge. Most parents recognized abstinence (57.55%), puberty (51.30%), and sexually transmitted infections (46.35%) as key topics in sexuality education. Regarding practices, 38.80% of parents discussed sex-related topics occasionally, while 13.80% never discussed these topics. Mothers were primarily responsible for sex education in 52.34% of households. Personal comfort level (36.20%) knowledge about sexuality education (30.99%) and religious beliefs (27.86%) were the main factors influencing parental engagement in sexuality education. The majority of parents (61.72%) believed schools should provide sexuality education in partnership with parents. Parents identified increased risk of unintended pregnancies (50.26%) and higher rates of sexually transmitted infection (43.49%) as major consequences of limited sexuality education. This study concludes that while parental knowledge and practice towards sexuality education are generally positive, there is a need for more consistent and comprehensive discussions. Recommendations include developing targeted sexuality education programmes for parents, creating accessible resources, encouraging proactive involvement of both parents and forming collaborative partnerships between parents, schools, and health professionals to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based sexuality education programmes.
Keywords: Sexuality, Adolescent, Informed-choices, Abstinence, Anatomy