Parent-child communication on sexual and reproductive health matters: Perspectives of mothers and fathers of youth in India

Parent-child communication on sexual and reproductive health matters: Perspectives of mothers and fathers of youth in India This report is the result of the Youth in India: Situation and Needs study a sub-nationally representative study, undertaken for the first time in India, of key transitions experienced by young people. The study was conducted jointly by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai and the Population Council. The study covered six states of India, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. These six states were purposively selected to represent the different geographic and socio-cultural regions within the country, and together they represent two-fifths of the country's population. This report presents data from in-depth interviews with mothers and fathers of youth in the six states. Interviews covered a wide range of themes, including parental perspectives on their children's life, aspirations for their future and extent of communication with their children with special emphasis on communication about matters relating to the physical changes associated with puberty, sex, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections/HIV. The Population Council is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organisation that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science and public health research, and helps build research capacities in developing countries.