REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROFILE OF STUDENTS IN MID AND LATE ADOLESCENCE IN SCHOOLS.

 

 

DR. AASHISH GUPTA

DR. SANGITA YADAV

DR. D.K.TANEJA

 

DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS AND COMMUNITY MEDICINE,

MAULANA AZAD MEDICAL COLLEGE

NEW DELHI

• REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: • ADDRESSES BASIC ELEMENTS OF

REPRODUCTIVE PROCESSES AND FUNCTIONS.  SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS/SEXUALITY  REPRODUCTIVE TRACT INFECTIONS STI’S, HIV/AIDS TEENAGE PREGNANCY/ABORTIONS TEENAGE CONTRACEPTION 

AN ADOLESCENT SHOULD BE AWARE OF:

• NORMAL PUBERTAL MATURITY

• CONCEPTION, CONTRACEPTION, STIs/HIV

OBJECTIVES 1)  TO ASSESS THE AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE

REGARDING: a)       PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENTb)       SEXUAL DEVELOPMENTc)       MENSTRUATIONd)       HIV 2) SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON REPRODUCTIVE

HEALTH

MATERIALS & METHODS          300 STUDENTS – 13-15 YEARS         300 STUDENTS – 16-18 YEARS         EQUAL NUMBER OF BOYS AND

GIRLS         FILLED A STRUCTURED SELF

ADMINISTERED QUESTIONNAIRE         CONDUCTED IN A CLASS ROOM SETTING         CONFIDENTIALITY MAINTAINED

OBSERVATIONS KNOWLEDGE OF PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENT IN BOYS FEATURES 13-15 YRS 16-18 YRS

PHYSICAL GROWTHHEIGHT GAIN 110 (73.3%) 105(70%)MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT 116(77.3%) 96(60%) SECONDARY CHARACTERSBODY HAIR 98(63.3%) 126(84%)FACIAL HAIR 118(78.5%) 110(73.3%)VOICE CHANGES 97(64.6%) 90(60%) SEMINAL DISCHARGE 10( 7%) 88(58.6%)  

PUBERTAL CHANGES – IN BOYS 

FEATURES 13-15 YRS 16-18 YR

 PHYSICAL GROWTHHEIGHT GAIN 60(40%) 88(58.6%)MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT 46(30.6%) 57(38% )  SECONDARY CHARACTERSBODY HAIR 140(93%) 148(98.6%)FACIAL HAIR 106(70.6%) 120(80%)VOICE CHANGES 96(64.6%) 135(90%) SEMINAL DISCHARGE 15(10%) 98(65%) 

KNOWLEDGE OF PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENT IN GIRLS FEATURES 13-15 YRS 16-18 YRSPHYSICAL GROWTHHEIGHT AND WEIGHT GAIN 8 (5.33%) 62(41.3%)

SECONDARY CHARACTERSBREAST DEVELOPMENT 136(90%) 140(93.3%)BODY HAIR 110(73.4%) 142(94.6%) MENSTRUATION 140(93.3%) 146(97.3%)

PUBERTAL CHANGES – IN GIRLS 

FEATURES 13-15 YRS 16-18 YRS  PHYSICAL GROWTH HEIGHT AND WEIGHT GAIN 112(74.6%) 132(88%)

 

SECONDARY CHANGESBREAST DEVELOPMENT 144(97%) 148(98.6%) BODY HAIR 136(90.6%) 146(97.3%)

MENSTRUATION 146(97.3%) 150(100%)

Knowledge of Menstruation

86

62

108 110

29

0

28

49

Girls (16 - 18) 13-15

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Regular Irregular NormalFlow

ExcessiveFlow

Girls (16-18) 13-15

Nature of menstrual periods

Girls (13 – 15)

Problems / Discomfort during menstruation

17%

9%

4%

8%

17%2%4%

5%

8%

19%

7%Fatigue / Tiredness

Back - ache

Head - ache

Pain in breast

Stomach ramps

Nausea Vomitting

Diarrhaea

Anxiety

Fear

Irritation

Depression

16-18 years 13-15 years

5%7%

7%

2%

9%

2%

0%

7%16%

29%

16%

0102030405060

16-18 13-15

Management of menstrual problems

74% 76%64%

14%

73%

18% 22%5% 10%

25% 18%

87% 89%

76%

25%

77%

23% 18%

8% 5%

11% 20%

Boys Girls

Knowledge of HIV transmission

54 4767

14 17

6344 51

36

11

46

10

60

57

4145

BOYS GIRLS

Source of information on reproductive health

- HIV AWARENESS AND PREVENTION 75%- STIs AWARENESS 30%

• - SAFE SEX AWARENESS 60%• - CONTRACEPTION KNOWLEDGE 40%

- NO TO TEENAGE MARRIAGE 97%• - TEENAGE PREGNANCY- UNSAFE 75%

- CONTRACEPTION KNOWLEDGE TO BE IMPARTED BY 16 YRS 80%- REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION 75% SHOULD BE PART OF CURRICULUM AND IMPARTED BY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

 

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

CONCLUSION 1.MAJORITY OF BOYS/GIRLS WERE AWARE ANDREPORTED ABOUT THE PUBERTAL CHANGES2.AWARENESS OF SEMINAL DISCHARGE – POOR3.AWARENESS OF MENSTRUAL PHYSIOLOGY - LOW4. HIGH PREVALENCE OF DYSMENORRHOEA WITH LACK OF PROPER TREATMENT MEASURES – SIGNIFICANT HEALTH PROBLEMS RESULTS IN LOSS OF WORKING DAYS5.  SIGNIFICANT DEFICITS STILL EXIST IN TEENAGERS KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT HIV/AIDS6.  SOURCE OF REPRODUCTIVE INFORMATION BOYS – PRINT MEDIA, FRIENDS, TV.GIRLS – PARENTS, FRIENDS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND PRINT MEDIA 

CONCLUSION(CONTND) 1. PUBERTY MODIFIES REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM, SEXUALRESPONSE AND THE WAY YOUNG PEOPLE PERCEIVETHEMSELVES IN THE SOCIETY.2. ADOLESCENTS REQUIRE BASIC INFORMATION ABOUTGROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.3.  NEED OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE AND EXPLORE INFORMATION4.  ADDRESS NEEDS OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT ANDSEXUALITY.5. AVERT RISKS RELATED TO SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR6.  IMPORTANT ROLE IN REPRODUCTIVE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OF ADOLESCENCE LINKED TO NATIONAL ISSUES: 1.    POPULATION EXPLOSION2.    TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND ABORTIONS3.    HIGH PREVALENCE OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT4.    HIGH MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY5.    STI’S/HIV - TRANSMISSION PEDIATRICIANS- IMPORTANT ROLE IN COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE AND LIAISE WITH PARENTS AND TEACHERS IN IMPARTING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH KNOWLEDGE THIS DOES NOT PROMOTE PROMISCUITY BUT CONFERS RESPONSIBLE ADULT BEHAVIOR.