Association between Family Environment and Sexual Behaviour of Adolescents in Burkina Faso

Studies conducted in Africa have demonstrated the existence of a significant association between family environment and the sexual behaviour of adolescents. Generally, empirical studies of this topic are based on parental control, and family or conjugal instability and socialization approa-ches. The objective of this study is to assess the association between family environment and the sexual behaviour of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. The 2004 National Survey of Adolescents (NSA) in Burkina Faso provides data for studying operationalization. Analyses were bivariate and multivariate. The former were conducted using cross tabulations while the latter used three logis-tic regression models. Results indicate a significant but low association among family environ-ment variables. Absence of both parents, or a number of individuals under 20 years old higher than the number of adults in a household is not systematically associated with risky sexual be-haviour. Parental control was shown to be more discriminating of sexual behaviour of adolescents from Burkina Faso, compared with communication with family members regarding sexuality. De-spite current ongoing economic crises and sociocultural mutations in Burkinabe societies, house-hold members and family still play major roles in adolescents ’ education. Results reinforce sexua