Caretakers acceptability in the provision of information on sexuality to adolescents using information motivation behavioral skills (IMB) model in urban district Zanzibar
Ali, S.S.; Manongi, R.R.
East African Journal of Public Health 7(3): 250-257
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0856-8960 PMID: 21516964 Document Number: 647483
Adolescents in Zanzibar are at risk of reproductive health problems including teenage pregnancies, STIs and HIV, early sexual debut and abortion complications. The national policy guideline of adolescents reproductive health needs parents to support and provide information on sexuality and reproductive health to their adolescents, however, Zanzibar has been observed to be a rich and splendid cultural and religious legacy country whereby information related to sexuality is an avoided topic of explicit discussion. Therefore the purpose of this study was to assess acceptability of caretakers in providing information on sexuality to adolescents in health centers, family, community and schools using information motivation behavioral skills (IMB) model. Probability 3 stages sampling technique was used to obtain a representative sample of 192 participant of the study (98 were female and 94 were male) who were interviewed with the use of structured questionnaire in Urban District, Zanzibar. About 100 (54.3%) respondents accept the provision of information on sexuality to their adolescents. Only 81 (44%) respondents reported to have knowledge on information on sexuality. Only 48(26%) respondents perceived that their adolescents are more vulnerable to get reproductive health problems, 73 (39.7%) reported to have less restrictive social norms regarding the provision of information on sexuality, 106 (57.6%) have positive attitude towards the provision of information on sexuality to adolescent and 96 (52.20%) have high self efficacy in the provision of information on sexuality. Indicators of motivation showed significant association and were the predictors of acceptability and self efficacy. The level of acceptability of caretakers in the provision of information on sexuality to their adolescents was nearly at the border line (54%). Providing information on sexuality and improve self efficacy are the most important factors to consider in the interventions of increasing caretakers' acceptability in the provision of information on sexuality to adolescents; however, creating less restrictive social norms, build up positive attitude and sensitizing on realization of feelings of vulnerability to caretakers add weight in plans to increase acceptability.