Awareness about reproductive health, contraceptive methods, STDs including HIV/AIDS, and HPV vaccine, among adolescent girls in district Faridkot in Punjab

Authors

  • Seema Grover Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India
  • Nishi Garg Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India
  • Rupali Rupali Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India
  • Balpreet Kaur Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20171966

Keywords:

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Human immunodeficiency virus, Human papilloma virus, Sexually transmitted diseases

Abstract

Background: Adolescents are more vulnerable than adults to unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Female adolescents have a higher risk of contracting an STD than their male counterparts. Hence creating awareness in them about reproductive health is the need of the hour.

Methods: This was a cross sectional school based Study which was conducted in various schools of Faridkot city of Punjab where 400 Adolescent girls of class 11th and 12th age between 16-19 years, studying in English medium schools in district Faridkot through predesigned multiple choice questionnaires.

Results: In our study, most of the girls (67%) were not aware about the meaning of reproductive health. Amongst contraceptive methods, 62.5% knew about condoms. The awareness about STDs was highest about HIV/AIDS (70.75%) and low (less than 20%) for other STDs. They also scored low about symptoms and route of transmission of STD’s. Only 17% of the girls knew about HPV vaccine. Attitude towards sex education was positive.

Conclusions: Poor knowledge in girls about Reproductive Health and STDs (other than HIV/AIDS) is of serious concern. Therefore, education about reproductive health should be incorporated in the curriculum which should be given through teaching, interpersonal communication, television, health camps and specialist.

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Published

2017-04-27

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Original Research Articles