European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Adolescence is a period of dynamic transition and it is a very sensitive period. The WHO defines adolescent as an individual between individual between

10-19years of age.

According to UNICEF, there are 253million adolescents comprising of 20% of comprising of 20% of the total population in India.

Reproductive health is an important component of general health. Adolescence is a period of increased risk taking and changes that leads to changes that leads to sexual curiosity, risk taking behaviour, mood swings, behaviour, mood swings, somatic or psychosocial problems, substance abuse problems, substance abuse and vulnerable to various diseases at younger age.

Majority of them still do not have access to information and education on sexuality, reproduction, sexual and reproductive health and rights, nor do they have access to preventive and curative service.

Adolescent girls also lack adequate knowledge about sexual matter and contraception which results in early pregnancy, maternal morbidity and mortality and unsafe abortions.

According to NACO, the number of HIV cases with age less than 20years is 15-20%.

Creating awareness about safe sexual practices, STIs, their modes of transmission, contraception in the adolescent age group is the best way to tackle the problems.

AIM

To understand the extent of awareness about reproductive health, contraception and STDs among adolescent girls aged between 11- 19years.

OBJECTIVE

1. To know the extent of awareness about reproductive health health, contraception and STDs among adolescent girls aged between 11- 19years
2. To provide basic information on safe sex, common problems related to reproductive health and prevention of STDs.

Distribution According To Age

Distribution According To Education

Distribution According To Knowledge Of Contraceptive  Methods

More than 2 methods of contraception was known to 22% of girls

Distribution According To Sexual Activity

Distribution According To Access Of Contraception

Distribution According To Openness To Talk To People

Knowledge Gained From People On Different Topics

Knowledge About Pregnancy

Knowledge Of Pyschological And Social Complications

Routes Of Transmission Of Stds

Symptoms Of Stds

Routes Of Transmission Of Hiv/Aid

Knowledge Of Hpv Vaccine

Attitude Towards Sex Education

Knowledge About Laws

More than two methods were known to 23% of the girls, In Haryana a study done in Rohtak found that at least two modes of contraception were known to 80.7% girls; OCP’s and Condoms were the most commonly known methods.

In our study, 62.25% were aware about safe sex .

Similar results in Dhaka Bangladesh, where in 65% subjects knew about safe sex. But in the study at Rohtak, only 11.3% of the girls knew correctly about safe sexual intercourse

In the current study, the awareness about STDs was high for HIV/AIDS, (70.75% ), Similar results were found in Raipur, where most of the girls (89.5%) knew about HIV.

The study at Vishakapatnam revealed that 84% of the subjects knew about HIV.

Vulval itching was known to 18.7% , dyspareunia to 15.5% , foul vaginal discharge to 13.5% and ulcers on vulva to 12% . About 6.5% girls did not respond to this question due to uncertain ideas.

In the Vishakapatnam study, 32% of girls were aware of two or more symptoms of RTI. Itching over vulva (26% ), ulcers of vulva (35% ).

At least 47.25% of the girls had no idea about the route of transmission of STDs

Our findings were similar to Vishakapatnam study, most known route was contact with infected partner (36% ) followed by usage of unclean cloth during menses (20% ).

Among the routes of transmission commonly known were infected blood/needle (56.25% ) and unsafe sex (49.75%).

he vertical route of transmission was known only to 11% , and (4.25%) girls gave no response. A small proportion 5.75% carried the wrong impression that HIV/AIDS could be transmitted by Mosquito bite.

Only 17% of the girls in our study knew about the HPV vaccine and were aware that it was meant for prevention of cervical cancer.

In a study done in five metro cities it was found that 72% of them did not know about cervical cancer or HPV and 77.2% were not aware of the virus.

Patanwar and Sharma found in their study that 86.4% of the study group showed a positive attitude towards sex education.

In Vishakapatnam study, 96% of the students thought that sex education was necessary and 56% felt that the appropriate age was 15 years

Poor knowledge in girls about contraception, STDs and reproductive health is a serious matter of concern.

Considering the fact that this study was conducted in a city which is also the capital of one of the largest and most populous states, the situation becomes more concerning.

Though there has been an improvement in the awareness regarding sexual health issues among adolescents yet there are no precisely aimed strategies to provide knowledge to this segment of society.

The major concern is the social stigma and taboo attached to the problem.

This study reinforces the requirement of adolescent friendly clinics, introduction of sexuality education in schools, increasing awareness through different media, need for parents and siblings to provide a friendly environment where such matters can be discussed.

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