An Assessment of Parents' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Delivering Sex Education to Adolescent Children in A Rural Community, South-West, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: In Nigeria, the persistent “culture of silence” surrounding sex education contributes to rising rates of teenage pregnancies, school dropouts and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents. This study assessed parents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in delivering sex education to adolescent children in a rural community, south-west, Nigeria

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2024 and February 2025 among 400 consenting parents or guardians of adolescents using a multistage sampling method. Data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data were entered into IBM SPSS version 25. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted at a 5% level of statistical significance. Ethical approval was obtained to conduct the study.

Results: The mean age (±SD) of respondents was 44.0 ± 8.8 years. Two hundred and fifty-five (63.7%) had good knowledge about sex education, while 369 (92.2%) had a positive attitude toward sex education. Two hundred and fifty-five (80.4%) parents started sex education with their children between the ages of 10 and 19 years. Predictors of sex education practice among respondents were age (AOR = 0.20, 95% C.I 0.077 - 0.533), gender (AOR = 0.47, 95% C.I 0.272 - 0.827), knowledge (AOR = 0.29, 95% C.I 0.165 - 0.492), and attitude (AOR = 0.11, 95% C.I 0.045 - 0.249).

Conclusion: The findings highlight strong parental support for sex education and a growing awareness of its importance. However, enhancing parental education through community-based interventions and training programs could improve the effectiveness of sex education, fostering open discussions and informed decision-making among adolescents.