Male Iranian adolescent's reasons for having an other-gender friend

Parents’ approaches to sexuality education of their adolescent boys: a qualitative study in Ahvaz, Iran

Background

Despite its important role in adolescent sexual health, sexuality education remains one of the most challenging responsibilities of families, especially those living in Muslim communities which experience the transition to modernity. There is little information about sexuality education of boys in Iran. This study aimed to explore parents’ approaches to sexuality education of adolescent boys in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran.

Methods

This qualitative study was conducted in 2017 in Ahvaz, Iran. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling with maximum variation. Qualitative data were collected by conducting semi-structured in-depth interviews and focused group discussions with 27 parents from middle/high social class who had adolescent boys aged between 10 and 19. Data were analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis.

Results

Parents’ approaches to sexuality education of their boys emerged in six categories: Extreme monitoring and restricting; abstinence as the main content of sexuality education; struggling to establish peace and achieve tolerance; criticizing the cultural taboos; hoping for spontaneous learning; and uncertainty and confusion. The theme “Transition from tradition to modernity” emerged from these categories.

Conclusion

Parents’ approaches to sexuality education ranged from a restrictive traditional manner to approaches with some degree of modern attitudes. Parents are facing uncertainty and confusion regarding sexuality education. Abstinence is an underlying assumption in their sexuality education style. Educating parents through culturally-appropriate methods is a priority that is more acceptable at the policy level. Lack of understanding of the need for sexuality education of children in some parents can threaten the sexual health of children.

Children’s sexuality education has an important role in adolescent sexual behaviors and health. However, it is one of the most challenging dimensions of education in families, especially in Muslim communities experiencing the transition to modernity. There is little information about sexuality education of adolescent boys in Iran. In this study we aimed to explore parents’ experiences and perceptions of communicating sexuality education with their sons. Data were collected through individual interview with 11 parents and group discussion with 8 fathers and 8 mothers who had sons aged 10–19, living in Ahvaz, in south west of Iran. We summarized and categorized parents’ approaches to sexuality education in categories including: Extreme monitoring and restricting; abstinence as the main content of sexuality education; struggling to establish peace and achieve tolerance; criticizing the cultural taboos; hoping for spontaneous learning; and uncertainty and confusion. Parents’ approaches to sexuality education ranged from a restrictive traditional manner to some degree of modern conduct. Findings imply that parents are facing challenges regarding sexuality education: uncertainty about the necessity of it, and confusion between religious teachings and modernity. Abstinence is still a central assumption and pre-marital sex is off-limits in their sexuality education. They hoped that they could enhance the children’s adherence to family’s values regarding sexuality, by establishing a peaceful relationship with them. These findings provide evidence for culturally-appropriate educational programs for parents to improve their skills and knowledge about sexuality education. These findings highlighted the fact that Iranian parents are experiencing a “Transition from tradition to modernity”.

Priorities for a gender-sensitive sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus (STIs/HIV) services: An exploratory mixed methods study

Background and Aim

Providing gender‐sensitive health services is emphasized by the World Health Organization. This study aimed to assess and prioritize the needs for the gender‐sensitive sexually transmitted infections/human immunodeficiency viruses (STIs/HIV) prevention services by a valid and reliable questionnaire.

Methods

This was an exploratory mixed methods sequential study in Shiraz Iran 2019. The first phase was a qualitative study on 37 providers and managers of the services who were recruited using the purposive and then snowball sampling method. In the second phase, following the content analysis of the qualitative data and a review of related literature, a questionnaire was developed and its psychometric properties were evaluated. Then, in the third phase, the questionnaire was used to assess and prioritize the needs through a quantitative descriptive cross‐sectional study on all 290 providers of STI/HIV prevention services affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Results

The finding of the qualitative phase showed gender‐sensitive STI/HIV prevention services should provide gender‐sensitive care and education by the trained personnel and manages with appropriate facilities and equipment. Providing these services also requires supportive policies, intersectoral cooperation, and community capacitation. In the second phase, a questionnaire was developed with 63 items. Assessment of psychometric properties of the questionnaire demonstrated the scale content validity index and ratio (S‐CVI = 0.98 and S‐CVR = 0.87, respectively), as well as the reliability of the questionnaire (internal consistency = 0.972 and intracluster correlation coefficient = 0.910). Results of the third descriptive phase of the study demonstrated the highest priorities for gender‐sensitive education (92.01 ± 11.76%) and care services (92.11 ± 12.04%), respectively.

Conclusions

To improve the quality of the services, a gender‐based education and care process, as well as a gender‐sensitive structure, including gender‐sensitive personnel, facilities, and management are necessary. Recognizing and meeting the needs for gender‐sensitive services will improve the quality of the services.