Abstract
Background: The Government of India Reproductive and Child Health programme declares 10-19-year old as adolescents. As per Census 2011, India is home to 253 million adolescents (10-19 years) who constitute 22% of the country’s population.NFHS-3 data indicates that among adolescents aged 15–24, 51% of young women and 27% of young men have ever had sexual intercourse.
Aim and Objectives: To study perception and awareness of sexual and reproductive health problems among school going male adolescents.
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in urban area Rohtak, Haryana, to assess the awareness and perception about sexual and reproductive health problems among school going male adolescents. Total 600 male adolescents were interviewed in Government, Government aided and Private Senior Secondary Schools by using predesigned and pretested interview schedule.
Results: The majority (85%) of adolescents were aware of pubertal changes.36% study subjects mentioned friends followed by 26% TV/Films, 16% internet and 10.5% study subjects mentioned Books/magazines as a source of information. 56.7% study subjects talked about their sexual health related issues with someone while 43.3% didn’t. 82.3% reported to have morning erection, whereas out of total 600 study subjects, 53.3% had experienced nocturnal emission.
Conclusion: The awareness and perception about reproductive and sexual health problems were found better among adolescents of Private Senior Secondary Schools as compared to Govt. &Govt. aided schools.
Keywords: Adolescents, School-going, Urban, Sexual Health.
References
- Lerner RM, Steinberg L. The scientific study of adolescent development Past, Present, and Future. Handb Adolesc Psychol Second Ed [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2017 Aug 28]:1–12. Available from: http://media.johnwiley.com.au/product_data/excerpt/81/04712094/0471209481.pdf
- Sunitha S, Gururaj G. Health behaviours& problems among young people in india: Cause for concern & call for action. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2014;140 (2):185-208.
- United Nations Population Fund. Youth Info India, Haryana [Internet]. New Delhi: United Nations Population Fund;2011 [cited 2017 Nov 2]; Available from: http://www.youthinfoindia.org/profiles/files/profiles/en/1/Youth Info_Haryana_IND006.pdf
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. A strategic approach to Reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health. New Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India; 2013;1–83.
- Paudel DP, Paudel L. Perceived behavior and practices of adolescents on sexual and reproductive health and associated factors in Kathmandu, Nepal. Muller J Med Sci Res [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2017 Oct 28];5(2):106-12. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.4103/0975-9727.135736.
- Jadeja YM, Joshi JB, Nimavat JH, Jasani PK, Koringa HT, Thekdi KP, Purani SK, Kartha GP, Mehta HA. A study on knowledge about various aspects related to reproductive health among school going adolescent boys. Int J Med Sci Public Health [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2017 Oct 28]; 6:12-17. Available from: http:/dx.doi.org 10.5455/ijmsph.2017.01062016537/
- Chayal V, Khanna P, Verma R. Perception regarding pubertal changes among rural adolescent boys of Haryana: A school based study. Indian J Community Heal. 2016;28(2):179-84.
- Jain RB, Kumar A, Khanna P. Assessment of self-awareness among rural adolescents: A cross-sectional study. Indian J Endocrinol Metab [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2017 Oct 28];17(7):1-6. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.4103/2230-8210.119628
- Patterns and perception status of reproductive and sexual health among adolescents and need assessment of sex education among them in Faridkot city. Faridkot: Baba Faridkot University of Health Sciences; 2016.
- Sathe AG, Sathe S. Knowledge, behaviour and attitudes about sexuality amongst adolescents in Pune: A situational analysis. J Fam Welf [Internet]. 2005 [cited 2017 Oct 29];51(1):11-7. Available from: http://medind.nic.in/jah/t05/i1/jaht05i1p49.pdf
- Harit SS, Prasad BS. Myths and misconceptions of sex and sexuality: A survey report. Indian J Anc Med yoga. 2013;6(3):115-21.
- Subbarao NT, Akhilesh A. Knowledge and attitude about sexually transmitted infections other than HIV among college students. Indian J Sex Transm Dis [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2017 Oct 27];38(1):10–4. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28442798%0Ahttp://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=PMC5389207
- Kumar R, Goyal A, Singh P, Bhardwaj A, Mittal A, Yadav SS. Knowledge attitude and perception of sex education among school going adolescents in Ambala district, Haryana, India: A cross-sectional study. J Clin Diagnostic Res. 2017;11(3):LC01-LC04.
- Ramadugu S, Srivastava K, Prakash J, Ryali V, Bhat P. Understanding sexuality among Indian urban school adolescents. Ind Psychiatry J [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2017 Oct 28];20(1):49-55. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.4103/2230-8210.119628
- Patil, SS, Chaturvedi R. Malkar M. Sexuality and sexual behavior in male adolescent students. Bombay Hospital Journal [Internet]. 2002 [cited 2017 Oct 20];4:1-5. Available from: http://www.bhj.org/journal_4404_oct/review_664.htm.
- Kushwah SS, Anuj M. Perceptions and practice with regard to reproductive health among out-of-school adolescents. Indian J Community Med [Internet]. 2007 [cited 2017 Oct 27];32(2):141–3. Available from: http://www.ijcm.org.in/temp/IndianJCommunityMed322141-4714776_011834.pdf
- Das B, Ray S. Adolescent Male Reproductive Health: Awareness and Behavior among Peri-Urban and Rural Boys in West Bengal, India. Int J Mens Health [Internet]. 2007 [cited 2017 Oct 25];6(2):79–99. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3149/jmh.0602.79
Corresponding Author
Dr R B Jain
Senior Professor, Community Medicine, Pt BD Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, India
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Mobile: 9717134259