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.

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Dr R B Jain

Senior Professor, Community Medicine, Pt BD Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, India

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