PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON FEMALE ADOLESCENT’S ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN WORD OF FAITH SCHOOLS, BENIN CITY

Abstract

In Nigeria, female adolescents face significant reproductive health challenges, including high rates of early pregnancy and limited access to services. While structural barriers are often cited, family-level dynamics, particularly parental influence, are a critical but less studied factor. This study investigated the influence of parental knowledge, attitudes, and communication practices on the access to reproductive health services among female adolescents in Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was employed, using a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 133 female students aged 10-19 years, selected via stratified random sampling from Word of Faith Group of Schools. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and inferential statistics (Pearson’s correlation) to test the hypothesis. Findings revealed a significant gap in parental communication and guidance. Over one-third of respondents strongly disagreed that their parents discussed where to access services (46.6%), explained available services (38.3%), or explained confidentiality (41.4%). Furthermore, parental beliefs about sexuality were identified as a major barrier, with 65.4% of adolescents agreeing it made access harder. A significant relationship was found between parental communication patterns and adolescents' access to reproductive health services (p = 0.005), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The study concludes that parental factors including communication gaps, restrictive beliefs, and lack of supportive guidance pose substantial barriers to female adolescents' utilization of reproductive health services. To improve health outcomes, interventions must actively engage parents through targeted education and community-based programs designed to foster open, supportive communication and dispel misconceptions. Keywords: Parental, Influence, Female, Adolescent Reproductive, Access.

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urn:uuid:85aea992-2d18-46b8-9548-12acd9d1301e