Parent-adolescent communication about COVID-19 safety precautions in Nigeria: A qualitative research

Aloysius  Odii

doi:10.36922/ijps.363

Aloysius Odii

Keywords: Parents, Adolescents, Risk communication, COVID-19

Abstract

Parents remain the primary source of health information for adolescents but their discussions regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) safety precautions have not been systematically explored. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the communication between parents and children regarding COVID-19 safety measures. In-depth interviews with 25 parents from different communities in Enugu State, Nigeria, were conducted. The study revealed that parents obtained information about the severity of the virus and the preventive measures from the media. Then, they persuaded their children, sometimes through threat or force and religious allegories, to comply with the preventive measures. The discussions about safety measures between parents and their children proved to be effective since the parents reported that their children obeyed the rules following their communications. Parent-adolescent communication about COVID-19 also instilled the concept of practicing basic hygiene routines into the adolescents. The implications of the parent-adolescent communication for policy and research are discussed.

References

Al-Shattarat, B., & Amuda, Y.J. 2021. Comparative report of compliance to precautionary measures against COVID-19 in Nigeria and Jordan. Heliyon, 7(8):e07793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07793

Apuke, D.O., & Omar, B. 2021. Television news coverage of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: Missed opportunities to promote health due to ownership and politics. Sage Open, 11:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211032675

Bikila, T.S., Dida, N., Bulto., A., Debolo, B.T., & Temesgen, K. 2021. Adolescents’ communication on sexual and reproductive health matters with their parents and associated factors among secondary and preparatory school students in Ambo Town, Oromia, Ethiopia. International Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 2021:6697837. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6697837

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. 2006. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3:77-101. https://doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Chandra-Mouli, V., & Patel SV. 2017. Mapping the knowledge and understanding of menarche, menstrual hygiene and menstrual health among adolescent girls in low-and middle-income countries. Reproductive Health, 1:30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-017-0293-6

Ebu, F. 2020. Nigeria’s Population Now 206m, Says NPC. The Guardian. Available from: https://guardian.ng/business-services/industry/nigerias-population-now-206m-says-npc [Last accessed on 2020 Dec 09].

Ilesanmi, O., & Afolabi, A. 2020. Perception and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban community in Nigeria: A cross-sectional study. PeerJ, 8:e10038. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10038

Laursen, B., & Collins, W.A. 2009. Parent-child relationships during adolescence. In: Lerner, R.L., & Steinberg, L. (eds.). Handbook of Adolescent Psychology. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Mbachu, C.O., Agu, I.C., Eze, I., Agu, C., Ezenwaka, U., Ezumah, N., et al. 2020. Exploring issues in caregivers and parent communication of sexual and reproductive health matters with adolescents in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. BMC Public Health, 20:77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8058-5

Muthengi, E., Ferede, A., & Erulkar, A. 2015. Parent-child communication and reproductive health behaviors: A survey of adolescent girls in rural Tanzania. African Population Studies, 29(2):1887-1900. https://10.11564/29-2-772

Nachega, J.B., Sam-Agudu, N.A., Machekano, R.N., Rabie, H., Van der Zalm, M.M., Redfern, A, et al. 2022. Assessment of clinical outcomes among children and adolescents hospitalized with COVID-19 in 6 Sub-Saharan African countries. JAMA Pediatrics, 176(3):e216436. https://doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.6436

National Population Commission. 2010. Priority Table, Volume Four: Population Distribution by Age and Sex. Abuja: National Population Commission.

Nigerian Centre for Disease Control. 2020. Risk Communication and Community Engagement Strategy COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Nigeria. Available from: https:// covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/media/files/updated_rcce_strategy_ web_version.pdf [Last accessed on 2022 Mar 10].

Odii, A., Atama, C.S., Igwe, I., Idemili-Aronu, N.J., & Onyeneho, N.G. 2020b. Risky sexual behaviours among adolescent undergraduate students in Nigeria: Does social context of early adolescence matter? The Pan African Medical Journal, 37:188. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2020.37.188.22968

Odii, A., Ngwu, O.M., Aniakor, C.M., Owelle, C.I., Aniagboso, C.M., & Uzuanwu, W.O. 2020a. Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on poor urban households in Nigeria: Where do we go from here? Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(1):75-85.

Olarewaju, K. 2020. COVID-19: Nigeria Announces Lockdown of Major Cities. World, Africa. Available from: https://www. aa.com.tr/en/africa/covid-19-nigeria-announceslockdown-of-major-cities/1784358 [Last accessed on 2022 Apr 12].

Olusanya, O.O, Arijesuyo, A.E., & Olusanya, O.A, 2013. Parent-child communication and adolescent sexual behavior among the Yoruba ethno-cultural group in Nigeria. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(14):79-84.

Otuonye, N.M., Olumade, T.J., Ojetunde, M.M., Holdbrooke, S.A, Ayoola, J.B., Nyam, I.Y., et al. 2021. Clinical and demographic characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Lagos, Nigeria: A descriptive study. Journal of the National Medical Association, 113(3):301-306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2020.11.011

Peplak, J., Klemfuss, J.Z., & Yates, T.M. 2021. Parent-adolescent conversations about COVID-19 influence adolescents’ empathic concern and adherence to health protective behaviors. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 69(6):925-932. https://doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.08.013

Pieterse, T., & Landman, C, 2021. Religious views on the origin and meaning of COVID-2019. HTS Theological Studies, 77(3):a6283. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v77i3.6283

PMA/2020 Nigeria. 2017. Adolescents and Young Adults Health Brief. PMA2017/Nigeria-R4. Available from: https://www. pmadata.org/sites/default/files/data_product_results/PMA2020-nigeria-national-R2-adol-brief.pdf

Putnam, S.P., Sanson, A.V., & Rothbart, M.K. 2002. In: Bornstein, M.H. (ed.). Handbook of parenting. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Tambling, R.R., Tomkunas, A.J., Russell, B.S., Horton, A.L., & Hutchison, M. 2021. Thematic analysis of parent-child conversations about COVID-19: “Playing It Safe”. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(2):325-337. https://10.1007/s10826-020-01889-w

Ugwu, C.F. 2020. Impact of Covid-19 lockdown on the Socio-psychological wellbeing of children: A personal experience in Nigeria. Journal of Social Work in Developing Societies, 2(3):23-28.

UNICEF. 2022. Child Mortality and Covid-19. United States: Unicef. Available from: https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-survival/covid-19 [Last accessed on 2022 Jul 27].

United Nations. 2020. Young People ‘Not Invincible’ in COVID-19 Pandemic: WHO Chief. United Nations. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/07/1069301 [Last accessed on 2022 May 07].

Weinman, M.L., Small, E., Buzi, R.S., & Smith, B.P. 2008. Risk factors, parental communication, self and peers’ beliefs as predictors of condom use among female adolescents attending family planning clinics. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 25:157-170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-008-0118-0

World Health Organisations. 2022. Advice for the Public: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Geneva: World Health Organisation. Available from: https://www.who.int/ emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public#:~:text=Keep%20physical%20distance%20of%20 at,rub%20or%20soap%20and%20water [Last accessed on 2022 Jul 28].