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Effect of Sexual Health Education of Mothers on Their Comfort and Intention to Discuss Sex-Related Topics with Adolescent Girls: A Controlled Intervention Study

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Abstract

Sex education is one of the most challenging topics for mothers. Therefore, we examined the effect of sexual health education of mothers on their comfort and intention to discuss sex-related topics with adolescent girls. In this controlled intervention study, 160 mothers of 13- to 16-year-old girls were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control groups. The intervention group underwent sexual health training, while the control group received routine care. Paired t-test, chi-square, analysis of covariance, and multivariate analysis of covariance were used for the analysis of data. There was a significant increase in mean parents' comfort in discussing sex topics in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < .001). The intervention group had spoken with their child to a higher extent than the control group in all 13 items of parents' Intention index for discussing sex topics with the child (except for delivery and menstruation) (p < .05).There was no significant difference between groups for the mean age appropriate for discussing sex topics with the child, Sense of Competence as well as its dimensions, such as self-efficacy and satisfaction. Mean pre-to-post scores of sense of Competence in child rearing (p = .04) and self-efficacy (p = .037) significantly increased in the intervention groups, while they were not significant in the control group. Sexual health education was effective in the feeling of interest and comfort of mothers to discuss sex topics. Therefore, counseling services on mothers' speech interactions are recommended to promote adolescent girl's sexual health.

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Data Availability

The authors state that data will not be shared because of the confidentiality of sex information.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to appreciate all the health workers in the centers, especially all the mothers who have shown the utmost cooperation in this study.

Funding

Partial financial support was received from Babol University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

    Fatemeh Gheysari

  2. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, 4717647745, Iran

    Hajar Pasha, Mohamad Chehrazi, Mahbobeh Faramarzi & Shabnam Omidvar

  3. Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

    Hajar Pasha & Hajar Adib-Rad

Authors
  1. Fatemeh Gheysari
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  2. Hajar Pasha
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  4. Mohamad Chehrazi
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  5. Mahbobeh Faramarzi
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  6. Shabnam Omidvar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hajar Pasha.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethics Approval

This project is a control-intervention study approved by the ethics committee of the research unit of Medical Sciences University with the ethical code IR.MUBABOL.REC.1399.207 dated 1.06.2020.

Consent for Publication

Written informed consent was obtained from the mothers for publication of this Information.

Informed Consent

All mothers provided written informed consent before study initiation.

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Gheysari, F., Pasha, H., Adib-Rad, H. et al. Effect of Sexual Health Education of Mothers on Their Comfort and Intention to Discuss Sex-Related Topics with Adolescent Girls: A Controlled Intervention Study. Arch Sex Behav 53, 395–404 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02708-1

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