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Abstract
Like mother like daughter: the influence of perceived mothers’ values on daughters’ attitudes towards sexual abstinence In Nigeria
O. Adeleke, A. Ankomah
The Society for Family Health, Abuja, Nigeria
Background:
Adolescent reproductive health problems are important concerns particularly in Nigeria where about a third of all African adolescents live. About a million births per year in Nigeria are to teenage mothers and abortion complications are responsible for 72% of all deaths among teenagers. Four percent of 15-19 year olds in Nigeria are infected with HIV. The family plays a crucial role in instilling values related to sexuality. This study was carried out to find out whether a daughter’s attitude towards sexual abstinence is influenced by her mother’s values and belief orientation.
Methods:
The study, which took place in 2005, triangulated both quantitative and qualitative methods. Questionnaires were self-administered to 371 in-school female adolescents in Ilishan-Remo, south-west Nigeria, after lessons learnt from a pilot were incorporated. Scales were developed to measure core independent and dependent variables and were all tested for reliability. In addition, ten focus group discussions were conducted among the students.
Results:
The mean age of respondents was 14.5 (SD=3.8) years. The result showed that perceived mother’s value-belief orientation correlated positively with the personal attitude of daughters toward sexual abstinence(r=0.334; p<0.0001). Furthermore, the personal attitude of daughters towards sexual abstinence is dependent on the subjective norms as reported on the value-belief orientation scale of their mothers towards sexuality (chi square =438.6; p<0.0001). Again adolescents who communicate with mothers have stronger self-efficacy to abstain only if mothers were perceived to hold conservative norms and values.
Conclusions:
Mothers play an enormous role in shaping the attitudes of their daughters towards sexual abstinence. Values and belief orientation are easily imbibed through effective mother-daughter communication. Prevention of HIV/AIDS, STIs, and unintended pregnancies can be achieved through effective intra-family communication. Daughters who are properly mentored by their mothers are likely to pass across such values on to their daughters.
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