Introduction: : Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) remains a major public health concern. Effective parent-child sexual and reproductive health communication (PCSC) has been shown to reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and to delay the onset of adolescent marriage and pregnancy Objectives: : This study aimed to explore the perceptions, attitudes and practices related to PCSC among parents and adolescents in Bolikhaxay province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Methodology: : A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted involving 496 participants, comprising adolescents aged 15–19 years and their parents, from two randomly selected urban and peri-urban communities in Bolikhamxay province, Lao PDR. Socioeconomic data were collected, and structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to assess engagement in, understanding of, and attitudes towards PCSC. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with engagement in PCSC. Results: : Only 32.9% of parents reported engaging in PCSC in two or more SRH topics at least twice within the six-month study period. Factors significantly associated with increased PCSC included higher monthly household income (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33- 0.76), a positive parental attitude toward SRH communication (AOR = 2.74; 95% CI: 1.80- 4.18), and greater parental self-efficacy regarding SRH communication (AOR = 5.06; 95% CI: 3.31,-7.74). Conclusion: Engagement in PCSC was suboptimal among families in Bolikhamxay province. Parental self-efficacy and positive attitudes toward SRH communication were positively associated with increased engagement, while lower household income was inversely associated. Targeted interventions to enhance parental SRH knowledge and communication confidence are warranted. Community based campaigns and digital platforms may serve as effective tools to promote open and informed SRH discussions among parents, teachers, local authorities, health professionals, and adolescents.

Background and rationale: : Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major public health problem in all countries around the world, having claimed 36,3 million lives so far. Lao PDR. HIV has been increasing among key populations, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM). According to the 2017 Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance (IBBS), the prevalence rate of HIV among MSM in Vientiane Capital has increased from 2.8% in 2014 to 7% in 2017. Objective: : This study aimed to identify the factors associated with HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Vientiane capital of Lao PDR. Methodology: : This study was a matched cases-controls study in a sample of 192 men who have sex with men registered with a positive HIV test result (Case) in Mahosot Hospital, Setthathirat Hospital, and Mittaphab Hospital and those with a negative HIV test result (Control) in Vientiane Capital. With a 1:1 ratio of 96 cases and 96 controls, with matched sexual roles (intimate or penetration, receptive, both intimate and receptive) using a purposive sampling method. Data collection was done using a face-to-face interview form with informed consent from the interviewees. All data were entered into the Epi-data program and transferred to the STATA program for data analysis. Results: : Out of 192 participants, the mean age for all participants is 27.2(+5.7) years; 69.8% of cases and 59.4% of controls are in the age group of ≥ 25 years old. The marital status for both groups most 94.8% were single. 45.9% of cases and 69.8% of controls had the higher education or equivalent to the diploma level. Cases were more likely than controls to have had a monthly income of >1,600,000 (56.2% vs. 40.6 %). Factors associated with HIV infection were monthly income of >1,600,000 (AOR=2.4; 95%CI=1.0-5.0; P-value=0.040), low knowledge of HIV (AOR=4.8; 95%CI= 1.9-11.9; P-value=0.001), bisexual (AOR=4.6; 95%CI= 1.2-17.1; P-value= 0.019), not always using condoms with male casual partners (AOR=14.7; 95%CI= 5.3-40.8; P-value<0.001), ever sexual behavior stigma (AOR=3.1; 95%CI= 1.2-8.1; P-value=0.015) and not interested PrEP (AOR=10.5; 95%CI= 4.1-26.8; P-value<0.001). Conclusion: The findings of the factors associated with HIV infection, which including of monthly income, knowledge of HIV, sexual preference, condom used, feeling of stigma regarding to sexual behavior, and access to PrEP. This study will provide the information for action plans and the development HIV prevention activities among MSM. There should be promoting condom used, accessing to PrEP, and HIV prevention information in order to reduce the new HIV infection cases.