Knowledge and Sources of Information about STIS/HIV, Communication about Sex and Attitude towards Condom Use in Adolescents and Parents/Mothers Salvadorans

The general aim of this study was to make a comparative analysis between parents and adolescents regarding knowledge about prevention and transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV, communication about sexuality and attitude towards condom use. Participants were 326 parents and 326 adolescents from El Salvador. Results showed that parents had a higher knowledge compared to adolescents (p=.04). Adolescents showed a higher positive attitude towards condom use compared to their parents (p=.00). Fathers (Mean=11.65; SD=4.07) and mothers (Mean=11.75; SD=3.99) reported a higher frequency of communication with adolescents than they did (Mean in communication with father=8.92; p=.00; mean in communication with mother 10.78; p=.01). These results indicate the need on sexual health interventions in Latino teens from a socio-ecological perspective.