Page 105 - IJPS-10-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Parent-adolescent communication about COVID-19 safety

mortality rate among adolescents can be explained by transmitted infections (STI), and contraceptives with their
their high tendency to violate safety precautions, which parents were more likely to use condoms during sexual
is prompted by low connectedness with family, increased intercourse (Weinman et al., 2008). In a study in Tanzania,
peer pressure, and impulses to engage in risk-taking adolescent girls who communicated about HIV/AIDs with
attempts (Laursen & Collins, 2009). Given these statistics, their parents tended to practice family planning, get tested
it is of utmost importance to make communicating with for HIV, and consistently utilize sexual protection such as
adolescents about COVID-19 safety precautions a priority condoms (Muthengi et al., 2015). In Nigeria, Odii et al. (2020b)
in the overall effort to curtail the spread of the virus. found that adolescent undergraduate students who did not
Nigeria is the most populous country in the sub-Saharan discuss sex with their parents had multiple sexual partners
Africa, with an estimated population of 206 million (Ebu, and engaged in sex without consistent condom use. In the
2020). Adolescents constitute a huge part of the population, context of COVID-19, parent-adolescent communication
as more than 1 in 4 people in Nigeria are adolescents aged could provide the needed guidelines, persuade compliance,
10 – 19 years (PMA/2020 Nigeria, 2017). Yet, little attention and offer explanation of why complying is important.
has been paid to understanding how information about However, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding
COVID-19 is passed down to them. While most adults parent-adolescent communications on the topics
are aware of the impact of the virus, most adolescents, surrounding COVID-19. The current literature focuses
especially those in low-and middle-income countries, mainly on developed countries. One study conducted
are at risk of contracting the virus because they are not in the USA reported that parents play their part by
given adequate information regarding the transmission communicating with their children about personal and
process and the safety precautions (Ugwu, 2020). A study social hygiene, as recommended by the Centre for Disease
conducted across 25 health facilities in Nigeria, Ghana, Control (CDC), in an effort to prevent the spread of the
the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, virus (Tambling et al., 2021). Another study showed that an
and Uganda reported higher mortality rates among increased frequency of parent-adolescent communication
children compared to those in developed countries and about COVID-19 strengthened adherence to the relevant
regions, such as the United States of America (USA) and safety measures (Peplak et al., 2021). Therefore, there is a
Europe (Nachega et al., 2022). Therefore, the adolescents need to explore the discussions between parents and their
in low-and middle-income countries should be properly adolescent children about COVID-19 safety precautions
informed about the virus, especially from trusted sources in low-and middle-income countries. This study is
such as their parents. aimed at filling the literature gap by exploring sources of

Parents are the primary agents of socialization for information regarding COVID-19 safety precautions and
their children (Chandra-Mouli & Patel 2017), and they how the information is cascaded from parents to their
are responsible for guiding them on what constitutes the children in Nigeria. The study promises to add to the
safety protocols for preventing the spread of COVID-19 existing literature on COVID-19 prevention and health
(Tambling et al., 2021; Ugwu, 2020). Most information promotion among adolescents in Nigeria.
regarding COVID-19 is disseminated through the 2. Data and methods
media (NCDC, 2020); therefore, parents can access
this information easily and have the responsibility of 2.1. Research design and study area
educating their children. Parents participate in many This study utilized qualitative methods to unravel
domains of child raising, including attitude formation, parents’ experiences in communicating COVID-19
sharing of values and knowledge, and caretaking of health, safety precautions with their children. The present study
all of which are achieved by communicating with their was undertaken in Enugu State in Southeastern Nigeria,
children (Bikila et al., 2021; Olusanya et al., 2013). Parent- which has a total land mass of 7,161 km. Enugu state was
adolescent communication is the most proper avenue for created in 1991 from part of the old Anambra State. The
conveying the needed directions, advice, and guidelines capital is Enugu, which also is the largest city of the state.
about COVID-19 prevention. Enugu State shares border with Imo, Anambra, Abia,

Curtailing the risk and spread of the coronavirus is a Ebonyi, Benue, and Kogi States. The state has an estimated
critical endeavor (Peplak et al., 2021). Evidence indicates population of 3.3 million people (National Population
that parent-adolescent communication plays a crucial Commission [NPC], 2010). Igbo forms the major ethnic
role in safeguarding the health of adolescents. A study group in Enugu State and Southeastern Nigeria. Enugu
conducted in the USA revealed that adolescents who is among the states with reported cases of COVID-19 in
engaged in discussions about sex, dangers of sexually Nigeria, had enhanced surveillance at different airports,

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 99 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.363