An analysis on the communication patterns used by different family set ups in

Cavite towards teenagers’ concept of sex

A large number of adolescents who engage in risky sexual behaviors doesn’t think about

the consequences that it could bring to their health and well-being. Early sexual intercourse

initiation has been associated with an increased risk of having multiple lifetime sexual partners,

unprotected sex, acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unwanted pregnancy, and

undesirable sexual outcomes, such as problems with orgasm and sexual arousal. In addition,

recent studies have found that early sexual intercourse is associated with depression and low self-

esteem (e Silva et al., 2016). Adolescent pregnancy is a global issue. Worldwide, approximately

16 million girls between the ages of 15 and 19, and two million girls under age 15, become

pregnant every year (Blum and Gates Sr., 2015). With the health risk, Infection with HIV/AIDS

is the fourth leading cause of mortality in the world. Currently, most (29.4 million) of the 42

million people globally who are infected with HIV are concentrated in Africa, but epidemics

elsewhere in the world are growing rapidly. Prevalence is increasing most swiftly in eastern

Europe and central Asia (Slaymaker et al., 2004). Sexually transmitted disease and unintended

pregnancies are results of risky sexual behavior and remain a significant public health problem

(Jørgensen, 2014).

In the Philippines, the cases of HIV are relatively low but slowly increasing. As of

January 2013, there were 380 new HIV Ab seropositive cases which was 79% higher than the

212 cases registered in January 2012; the 20 to 29 years old had the most number of cases, 61%,

which is higher than the 59% in previous year (De Jose, 2013). The vulnerability of adolescents

to HIV and other STIs have also increased due to behavioral factors such as initiating sexual
relations at a young age and having multiple (concurrent or serial) sexual partner (De Jose,

2013). A majority of them do not use any form of protection, according to data collated by the

Philippine Statistics Authority (BusinessMirror, 2016).

The Philippines also is currently ranked as the 3rd country which has the largest number

of Catholics in the comprehensive democratic study by the Pew Research Center in 2010. Roman

Catholic, the predominant religion among Filipinos, has shaped the conservative values and

belief surrounding sex and sexual practices among families and individuals (Tuason et al., 2017).

84.9% Catholic youths have answered that they are religious and 93.3% claims that being

Catholic is an important part of their personal identity (National Catholic Youth Survey, 2013).

In theory, all Catholics believe that loyalty and fidelity to the church's living tradition require

adherence to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church (Joaquin, 2017). However,

interpretations of these teachings vary. For some faithful Catholics, following the teachings

means humble submission and silent obedience; others may in good conscience disagree and

engage in public conversation about a particularly controversial matter (Joaquin, 2014).

Parental sexual communication has one of the strongest influences in promoting safe sex

behaviors including an increase in condom use, delay in sexual initiation, and decrease in the

number of sexual partners. Parent-teen sexual communication leads to the development of a

child’s sexual values and norms that are similar to the parents (Tuason et al., 2017). Youths who

have good communication with their parents or guardians and are well informed about the

dangers of STDs are more likely to engage in non-risky sex than those who do not have

communication with their family (Gumban, 2016). Lastly, a study conducted by Botvin and

Griffin (2014) showed that poor parental communication about HIV/AIDS leads to a child’s

risky sexual behavior (Gumban, 2016).

 The communication patterns that are often used are:

With this study, the communication pattern will also be applied to the different family set

ups that is currently existing in the Philippines. “The Filipino family is in transition,” said. Dr.

Grace T. Cruz of the University of the Philippines Population Institute as she introduced her talk

during the recently concluded Partners’ Conference of the Philippine Center for Population and

Development (PCPD), Inc., a foundation that supports initiatives on reproductive health and

POPDEV (Manila Standard, 2014). The set ups are as listed below:

Several studies have claimed that there aren’t much researches present on the field of

communication about sex within the family. Thus, the researchers’ purpose is to give light into

this topic and to contribute in breaking the taboo on sex in the Philippines and how

communication patterns work in the transitioning family set ups.

General Problem: What are the communication patterns used by different family setups in

Cavite towards teenagers' concept of sex?

Research Questions:

1. How often do teenagers communicate with their parents in terms of sexual and sensitive

topics?

2. What are the different approaches of the parents towards the topic of sex?

3. What are the general attitudes and reactions of the teenagers towards the communication

of sexual topics with their parents?

4. How does communication on sexual topics affect the sexual awareness of teenagers?

5. Does the communication on sexual topic causes higher risk in involvement or higher in

awareness?
 METHODOLOGY

Study Design

This study will use a qualitative type of research in which

Units of Analysis

The participants of this study will include one (1) family for each type of modern family set

up that are: (insert family set up) and is found within the area of the study, Cavite City. This will

prove that the family set ups in the Philippines is indeed transitioning and will be open for more

researches especially on their communication patterns. This will show that Filipinos have adapted

a different lifestyle away from being conservative and traditional. Parent/Parents and their

adolescent child will be selected for an in depth interview – individually and together - wherein

the researchers will come up with a questionnaire for each part. With that, they will be analyzing

the different communication patterns that each family have used in addressing the topic of sex with

their child.

Respondents of the Study

The researchers will be selecting one (1) family for each type of modern family set ups in

the Philippines who are living in Cavite City. This will include parent/parents and adolescents at

the age 15-24.

Data Collection Techniques and Procedures

 First, the researchers will come up with a questionnaire that is based on their research

questions and will be using that to conduct an in depth interview with their respondents. Secondly,

the search for their participants must strictly fit into their category. The in depth interview next

will be divided into two (2) parts: a separate interview with the parent/parents in the family and

their adolescent. The second part of it will include both parent or parent alone with their adolescent.

This will enable the researchers to thoroughly analyze the communication patterns that the family

is using in terms of the topic of sex.

Data Analysis
I. e Silva, R. N. A., Wijtzes, A., Van De Bongardt, D., van de Looij-Jansen, P., Bannink, R., &

Raat, H. (2016). Early sexual intercourse: Prospective associations with adolescents physical

activity and screen time. PloS one, 11(8), e0158648.

II. Blum, R. W., & Gates Sr, W. H. (2015). Girlhood not motherhood. Preventing adolescent

pregnancy.

III. Slaymaker, E., Walker, N., Zaba, B., & Collumbien, M. (2004). Unsafe sex. Comparative

quantification of health risks: global and regional burden of disease attributable to selected

major risk factors, 2, 1177-1254.

IV. Jørgensen, M. J. (2014). Sexual behaviour in the general young population–factors

associated with sexual risk behaviour. Aarhus University, Denmark.

V. De Jose, E. G. (2013). Filipino adolescents’ sexual attitudes and behaviors: results from a

University cohort. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(8), 717.

VI. Ordinario, C. (2016). A third of Pinoy youth had premarital sex - BusinessMirror. Retrieved

from https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/04/04/a-third-of-pinoy-youth-had-premarital-sex/

VII. The Global Catholic Population. (2013). Retrieved from

https://www.pewforum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/

VIII. Tuason, I. C., Bernarte, R., & Dong, F. (2017). The relationship of religion, religiosity, and

parental communication in the sexual behaviors of Filipinos aged 18-25 years in the United

States and the Philippines. Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal, 2(4), 124-132.
IX. Asiones, Ph.D, N. (2013). The National Filipino Catholic Youth Survey 2013: Top Ten

Findings [Ebook]. The National Filipino Catholic Youth Survey.

X. Joaquin, A. (2014). Carrying the cross: Being gay, catholic, and Filipino.

XI. Gumban, G., Martos, R. J., Rico, K. W. M., Bernarte, R. P., & Tuason, I. C. (2016). Let’s talk

about sex: parental communication and sexual behavior or male Filipino youth. Asia Pac. J.

Multi. Res, 4(2), 130-139.