Adolescent–Parent Relationships and Communication: Consequences for Pregnancy Knowledge and Family Planning Service Awareness

Purpose: We explore three dimensions of parent–adolescent relationships (sexual and reproductive health (SRH) communications, connectedness, and parental monitoring) from the perspective of young adolescents as they relate to pregnancy knowledge and family planning service awareness in four diverse geographic areas ranging from low to high income settings and stratified by sex. Methods: Analyses utilized baseline data from four Global Early Adolescent Study sites (Shanghai, China; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Denpasar and Semarang, Indonesia; and New Orleans, United States). Multiple linear regressions were conducted to assess the relationships between key characteristics of parent–adolescent relationships and pregnancy knowledge. Multiple logistic regressions were also conducted to assess relationships between key characteristics of parent–adolescent relationships and family planning service awareness. Results: Across all four sites, communication with a parent about SRH matters was significantly associated with increased pregnancy knowledge among female respondents. Further, girls in Shanghai and New Orleans and boys in Kinshasa who had ever communicated with a parent about SRH matters were significantly more likely to know where to get condoms. Finally, girls who communicated with a parent about any SRH matter were significantly more likely to know where to get other forms of contraception across all four study sites. Discussion: Findings strongly support the importance of SRH communications between young adolescents and their parents. Our findings also suggest that while parental connectedness and monitoring are beneficial they are not replacements for quality parent–adolescent communications about SRH issues that begin early in adolescence before sexual intercourse is initiated.