Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: As adolescence represents a window of opportunity to prepare for a healthy adult life; thus, the present study was undertaken to study the knowledge, attitude and awareness among school going adolescents of urban area of Faridkot regarding reproductive health and sexual problems. Material and methods: The  present community based cross sectional study was carried out among school going adolescents of 16 to 19 years studying in 11th and 12th classes. A self designed self-reported pretested questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge regarding reproductive and sexual health among adolescents in schools. Data was compiled in excel sheet and analyzed with Chi-square test with p-value of <0.05 was considered as significant value.  Results: 16(06.40%) students agreed to marry to a person who had premarital sex and 199(79.60%) answered no and undecided were 35(14.00%). most of the respondents believed that father determined sex of a child and the results were significant. Majority of the girls 98(68.53%) were aware that pregnancy resulted from sexual intercourse with a man. The percentage of boys able to answer this question correctly was 78(72.89%). Only 51(35.67%) respondents were educated about menstruation before menarche. Methods of contraception known to respondents among the girls 58(40.56%)  were condoms.  Among boys the percentage naming condoms was 56(52.34%), those naming abstinence were 10(09.36%) and those naming OCP’s were 31(28.97%). Conclusion: Since the subject of adolescent sexuality remains a taboo in most societies, there is widespread ignorance among young people of risks associated with behavior changes, physiological changes, psychological changes and various consequences associated with these. School based effective sex education is the need of the hour. Sex education should be provided to adolescents by their teachers without any hesitation, it should be a part of their regular school curriculum.
Keywords: Menstruation; Pregnancy; STDs