Page 106 - IJPS-10-1

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

and was locked down at the peak of COVID-19 in Nigeria were processed and edited appropriately to remove errors.
(Al-Shattarat & Amuda, 2021). Thematic analyses, guided by Braun & Clarke (2006), were
used for data analyses. Four transcripts were read by the
2.2. Study participants and selection researcher multiple times to achieve immersion in the

The study participants comprised parents of adolescents in data. The transcripts were then used to develop codes for
secondary schools located in Nsukka Local Government the study. The codes were assessed, and in the end, some
Area, Enugu, Nigeria. Thus, two major schools (a public were merged or removed. The codes were later developed
and a private school) were purposively selected in Nsukka into conceptual categories and later, themes. The remaining
LGA. The schools were selected with the consideration of transcripts were coded in the same pattern. An example
population and diversity of students’ backgrounds. Then, was the decision to code any reference to knowledge or
the school administrators were met and informed about awareness of COVID-19 to the theme of what parents think
the study, and they offered assistance by providing name about COVID-19. The findings are presented thematically
lists of adolescents aged 10 – 19 years whose parents have in the next section.
always resided within the community. Secondary schools
were determined as the source of study participants 3. Results
because they have a large concentration of adolescents 3.1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the
whose parents are easy to trace. Moreover, it was necessary respondents
to establish that the study was dealing with parents who
were with their children during the peak of the pandemic. A total of 25 parents were interviewed (Table 1). Nine
Through the assistance of the administrators, balloting of the respondents are males while 16 are females. The
was conducted and 35 parents were identified. They were respondents have an average age of 44 (31 – 74 years).
contacted and briefed on the nature of the study and Five of the respondents have Senior Secondary School
25 agreed to participate in the study. The other parents Certificates (SSCE), three have diplomas, 12 have degrees
who did not participate cited having a busy schedule as the while five have higher degrees. All the respondents were
prime rejection reason. married and only two were unemployed.
2.3. Instrument and method of data collection 3.2. What do parents think about COVID-19?
The interview guide was developed by the researcher. It was The interviews started with a question on what parents
first pre-tested on two parents before the data collection think about COVID-19. This was based on the premise
began. After the pre-test, the tool was strengthened further, that what parents think about the virus may influence how
especially in line with the objectives. Specific questions they discuss it with their children. From the participants’
on what parents think about COVID-19, their source of accounts, parents perceived that COVID-19 is a deadly
information about COVID-19, their discussions with disease that wreak havoc and as such, must be taken
children regarding COVID-19, and how the discussions seriously. The following are illustrative quotes:
affected the children’s behavior were key in addressing the “COVID is a killer disease, a communicable
research objectives. disease, which demands that we all must be careful.
COVID-19 does not differentiate between social
Data were collected between December 2020 and
February 2021, toward the easing of the lockdown. The status nor does it discriminate… it kills people of
respondents attended the interview at the time and venue different classes and different ages.” (Male, 68 years
of their preference. The interviews were conducted in old, unemployed)
English, a language all the participants are fluent in. The “When they started the awareness about COVID-19,
research employed the service of a research assistant I went to Kano. There, they kept saying that COVID
(a female student from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka) is killing a lot of people. So, we decided to go to the
who helped with note-taking during the interviews. general hospital to see for ourselves, right there we saw
The interviews lasted for approximately 34 min. With dead people that are being taken away. Also, we learned
the permission of each respondent, the interviews were that a top official in this administration died as a result
recorded, and the clips were properly labeled and stored of COVID-19. The day he was buried, we saw it on the
on a computer. television, including those that disposed the clothes
they wore to the burial because they all know that it is
2.4. Data analyses a killer disease.” (Male, 55 years old, civil servant)
The data were transcribed verbatim by the researcher, Participants claimed that they were aware of the high
with the assistance of the note-taker. All the transcripts death rates linked to COVID-19. However, some of the

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 100 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.363