Abstract #373  -  Adolescents beliefs about parents willingness to discuss sensitive issues: Implications for parent-child HIV/AIDS interventions
Authors:   Presenting Author:   K Garegae -
Additional Authors:  Mr/s G Tsheko, Mr/s D Jankie,
Aim: It is a fact that parental involvement in issues pertaining to adolescents sexual behavior is critical to this countrys development. This is so because of two reasons. First, according to the report of BAIS II 2004, adolescents and youth form the majority of those living with HIV, and thus parents should partner with the government to curtail the rate at which the infection spreads, failing which there would be no leaders for tomorrow. Second, it is important that parents be concerned about matters concerning their childrens sex and risk behaviors because it is their responsibility to guide and nurture them into good citizens of Botswana. However, childrens reception of parental advice is as well an essential element of the equation. This study, therefore, purports to explore beliefs of junior secondary adolescents about parents willingness to discuss issues of HIV/AIDS with their children. In particular, the study seeks to answer the following questions: 1. What beliefs do adolescents hold about their parents willingness to discuss sensitive issues including sex and sexuality with their children? 2. What implications do adolescents beliefs have in terms of enhancing or hindering HIV/AIDS parent-child interventions? The study uses data collected from four focus groups: two mixed group with twelve students each and two with single sex groups also with twelve students each. These focus groups were conducted both in Gaborone and Molepolole. The recorded data have been transcribed verbatim and Teschs (1990) strategies of managing qualitative data to identify themes and category on adolescents beliefs to inform the study. The paper will end by discussing implications of the study results for HIV/AIDS intervention programs aimed at improving parent-child communication.
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