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 DEVELOPMENT b) SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT c) MENSTRUATION d) HIV 2) SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

MATERIALS & METHODS  300 STUDENTS – YEARS  300 STUDENTS – 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 FEATURES13-15 YRS16-18 YRS PHYSICAL GROWTH HEIGHT GAIN110 (73.3%)105(70%) MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT 116(77.3%) 96(60%) SECONDARY CHARACTERS BODY HAIR 98(63.3%)126(84%) FACIAL HAIR118(78.5%)110(73.3%) VOICE CHANGES 97(64.6%) 90(60%) SEMINAL DISCHARGE10( 7%) 88(58.6%)

PUBERTAL CHANGES – IN BOYS FEATURES13-15 YRS16-18 YR  PHYSICAL GROWTH HEIGHT GAIN60(40%)88(58.6%) MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT46(30.6%)57(38% )  SECONDARY CHARACTERS BODY HAIR140(93%)148(98.6%) FACIAL HAIR106(70.6%)120(80%) VOICE CHANGES 96(64.6%)135(90%)  SEMINAL DISCHARGE15(10%) 98(65%)

KNOWLEDGE OF PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENT IN GIRLS FEATURES13-15 YRS16-18 YRS PHYSICAL GROWTH HEIGHT AND WEIGHT GAIN 8 (5.33%) 62(41.3%) SECONDARY CHARACTERS BREAST DEVELOPMENT136(90%)140(93.3%) BODY HAIR110(73.4%)142(94.6%) MENSTRUATION140(93.3%)146(97.3%)

PUBERTAL CHANGES – IN GIRLS FEATURES13-15 YRS16-18 YRS PHYSICAL GROWTH HEIGHT AND WEIGHT GAIN 112(74.6%)132(88%) SECONDARY CHANGES BREAST DEVELOPMENT144(97%)148(98.6%) BODY HAIR136(90.6%)146(97.3%) MENSTRUATION146(97.3%)150(100%)

Knowledge of Menstruation

Nature of menstrual periods

Girls (13 – 15) Problems / Discomfort during menstruation years13-15 years

Management of menstrual problems

Knowledge of HIV transmission

Source of information on reproductive health

- HIV AWARENESS AND PREVENTION75% - STIs AWARENESS30% - SAFE SEX AWARENESS60% - CONTRACEPTION KNOWLEDGE40% - NO TO TEENAGE MARRIAGE97% - TEENAGE PREGNANCY- UNSAFE75% - CONTRACEPTION KNOWLEDGE TO BE IMPARTED BY 16 YRS80% - REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION75% SHOULD BE PART OF CURRICULUM AND IMPARTED BY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

CONCLUSION 1.MAJORITY OF BOYS/GIRLS WERE AWARE AND REPORTED ABOUT THE PUBERTAL CHANGES 2.AWARENESS OF SEMINAL DISCHARGE – POOR 3.AWARENESS OF MENSTRUAL PHYSIOLOGY - LOW 4. HIGH PREVALENCE OF DYSMENORRHOEA WITH LACK OF PROPER TREATMENT MEASURES – SIGNIFICANT HEALTH PROBLEMS RESULTS IN LOSS OF WORKING DAYS 5. SIGNIFICANT DEFICITS STILL EXIST IN TEENAGERS KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT HIV/AIDS 6. SOURCE OF REPRODUCTIVE INFORMATION BOYS – PRINT MEDIA, FRIENDS, TV. GIRLS – PARENTS, FRIENDS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND PRINT MEDIA

CONCLUSION(CONTND) 1. PUBERTY MODIFIES REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM, SEXUAL RESPONSE AND THE WAY YOUNG PEOPLE PERCEIVE THEMSELVES IN THE SOCIETY. 2. ADOLESCENTS REQUIRE BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. 3. NEED OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE AND EXPLORE INFORMATION 4. ADDRESS NEEDS OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT AND SEXUALITY. 5. AVERT RISKS RELATED TO SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR 6. IMPORTANT ROLE IN REPRODUCTIVE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OF ADOLESCENCE LINKED TO NATIONAL ISSUES: 1. POPULATION EXPLOSION 2. TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND ABORTIONS 3. HIGH PREVALENCE OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT 4. HIGH MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY 5. 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.