Sexual Socialization of Adolescents in Addis Ababa: the Case of Adolescents in Ayer Tena Secondary and Preparatory School
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Date
2015-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate how adolescents get socialized about sexuality; the
sources, areas/contents of sexual information/ and socialization and to identify whether there
was gender difference in sexual socialization of adolescents. In addition, the study also aimed at
examining the relationship between perceived adolescents sexual socialization and RH
knowledge. The study design is a descriptive survey where a situation and the prevalent issues
under the problem of the study were described. Data were collected from 259 adolescents (150
female and 109 male) using self-reported questionnaire. To select the participants stratified
random sampling technique was employed. The finding indicated that with respect to both
adolescents’ preferred and current source of sexual information, peer groups were reported as
the first source. Parents, particularly mothers were reported as the second preferred source
while they were the least with respect to the current sources of sexual information for
adolescents. The result of the study also indicated that adolescents were found informed/and
socialized with specified areas of SRH issues such as about contraceptives; condoms and birth
control, unplanned pregnancy, STIs and STDs including HIV/AIDS. The result of independent
samples t-test revealed that there was a significant difference between female and male
adolescents in parental sexual communication, perceived parent and peer approval of sexual
behavior. Finally, the study indicated that RH knowledge has weak significant positive
relationship with peer sexual communication, media SS, perceived parent and peer approval of
sexual behavior. To conclude, peer groups were the main source of sexual information for
adolescents followed by media and adolescents were found socialized with specified areas of
sexual issues. The finding suggests a need to promote parents awareness about the importance of
open parent-adolescent sexual communication in the effort to promote adolescents reproductive
health and sexual behavior. In addition, there is a need for future in-depth study of the issue.
Key words: Adolescent, Sexuality, Sexual Socialization, Reproductive Health
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Keywords
Adolescent, Sexuality, Reproductive health, Sexual socialization