“My child would never do that”: Caregiver-child relationships regarding openness and communication about sexuality education in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Abstract The study focuses on caregivers’ personal reasons for not having openness in communication regarding sexuality education messages with their children. Qualitative semi-structured focus group discussions with six caregivers per school from four different socio-economic status schools in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were conducted and analyzed using Thematic Content Analysis. Caregivers’ lack of self-confidence as a credible source of sexuality education, the powerlessness they feel and denial that their children could be sexually active; prevent them from talking to their children regarding this. The school should include caregivers in the sexuality education program to increase caregivers’ knowledge and skill in caregiver-child communication.