Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Reproductive Health Issues and Family Formation Among Adolescent Girls of Puducherry
Introduction: Adolescents are an important resource of any country. Adolescent girls need adequate information about the physical, psychological changes that take place during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and child birth. This study aims to assess knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls of th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Light House Polyclinic Mangalore
2014-12-01
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| Series: | Online Journal of Health & Allied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ojhas.org/issue52/2014-4-1.html |
| _version_ | 1818207060009943040 |
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| author | Aarthi G Premarajan KC Subitha L |
| author_facet | Aarthi G Premarajan KC Subitha L |
| author_sort | Aarthi G |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Adolescents are an important resource of any country. Adolescent girls need adequate information about the physical, psychological changes that take place during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and child birth. This study aims to assess knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls of the age group 17-19 years on family formation and reproductive health issues in an urban area of Pondicherry. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among adolescent girls (aged 17 to 19 years) residing in an urban ward of Puducherry. Data collection was through house to house survey using a structured questionnaire. Results: 120 girls were approached and response rate was 100%. One fifth (21%) and one third (31%) of the study subjects knew the legal age for marriage for boys and girls respectively. 90% of girls were aware of small family norm, and perceived ideal family size as two. Awareness on contraception was poor (9%). Around 78% subjects considered fruits and vegetables as essential in the diet of pregnant women. Nearly 73% subjects were aware of Janani Suraksha Yojana and 89% were aware that immunization is essential for infants. Though 98% of the girls were aware that breast milk was the ideal food for babies, only 34.2% of the girls were aware of exclusive breast feeding. Conclusion: In this study, adolescent girls were aware regarding legal age at marriage, small family norm and dietary care during pregnancy. However, knowledge levels on contraceptive measures, exclusive breast feeding and supplementary feeding is less than satisfactory. These gaps in knowledge on reproductive health and family formation need to be addressed through innovative ways of health education in a non-threatening environment at the school and community levels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:22:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dddfcdd896aa4d8c9687768c0fbbf7de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0972-5997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:22:55Z |
| publishDate | 2014-12-01 |
| publisher | Light House Polyclinic Mangalore |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Online Journal of Health & Allied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-dddfcdd896aa4d8c9687768c0fbbf7de2022-12-22T00:38:17ZengLight House Polyclinic MangaloreOnline Journal of Health & Allied Sciences0972-59972014-12-01134Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Reproductive Health Issues and Family Formation Among Adolescent Girls of PuducherryAarthi G0Premarajan KC1Subitha L2Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, IndiaJawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, IndiaJawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, IndiaIntroduction: Adolescents are an important resource of any country. Adolescent girls need adequate information about the physical, psychological changes that take place during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and child birth. This study aims to assess knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls of the age group 17-19 years on family formation and reproductive health issues in an urban area of Pondicherry. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among adolescent girls (aged 17 to 19 years) residing in an urban ward of Puducherry. Data collection was through house to house survey using a structured questionnaire. Results: 120 girls were approached and response rate was 100%. One fifth (21%) and one third (31%) of the study subjects knew the legal age for marriage for boys and girls respectively. 90% of girls were aware of small family norm, and perceived ideal family size as two. Awareness on contraception was poor (9%). Around 78% subjects considered fruits and vegetables as essential in the diet of pregnant women. Nearly 73% subjects were aware of Janani Suraksha Yojana and 89% were aware that immunization is essential for infants. Though 98% of the girls were aware that breast milk was the ideal food for babies, only 34.2% of the girls were aware of exclusive breast feeding. Conclusion: In this study, adolescent girls were aware regarding legal age at marriage, small family norm and dietary care during pregnancy. However, knowledge levels on contraceptive measures, exclusive breast feeding and supplementary feeding is less than satisfactory. These gaps in knowledge on reproductive health and family formation need to be addressed through innovative ways of health education in a non-threatening environment at the school and community levels.http://www.ojhas.org/issue52/2014-4-1.htmlReproductive healthFamilyAdolescent girlsPuducherry |
| spellingShingle | Aarthi G Premarajan KC Subitha L Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Reproductive Health Issues and Family Formation Among Adolescent Girls of Puducherry Online Journal of Health & Allied Sciences Reproductive health Family Adolescent girls Puducherry |
| title | Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Reproductive Health Issues and Family Formation Among Adolescent Girls of Puducherry |
| title_full | Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Reproductive Health Issues and Family Formation Among Adolescent Girls of Puducherry |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Reproductive Health Issues and Family Formation Among Adolescent Girls of Puducherry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Reproductive Health Issues and Family Formation Among Adolescent Girls of Puducherry |
| title_short | Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Reproductive Health Issues and Family Formation Among Adolescent Girls of Puducherry |
| title_sort | knowledge and attitude regarding reproductive health issues and family formation among adolescent girls of puducherry |
| topic | Reproductive health Family Adolescent girls Puducherry |
| url | http://www.ojhas.org/issue52/2014-4-1.html |
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