Knowledge about reproductive health and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among adolescent studying in Ranchi Women's college of tribal state, Jharkhand

Erum Yasmin; Chandramani Kumar

Volume : IX, Issue : VII, July - 2020

Knowledge about reproductive health and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among adolescent studying in Ranchi Women's college of tribal state, Jharkhand

Erum Yasmin, Chandramani Kumar

Abstract :

Background:Adolescence is a crucial stage of life with unique health needs. The silence over reproductive health needs make adolescents particularly girls vulnerable to easily preventable life-threatening conditions.Objectives:To assess the knowledge level of girls of intermediates and comparison of the same among the three streams (arts, science & commerce).Methods:A cross sectional study was conducted for a period of six weeks among 150 students. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Scoring was done to assess the knowledge level. The statistical test used was ANOVA and post hoc test.Results:More than half of subjects had correct knowledge regarding menstruation normal interval, normal duration and source of bleeding. Still 4.7% thought menstruation to be a curse. Also 66% of study subjects had no idea of the time when the risk of pregnancy was highest. Only 11.3% knew that pregnancy can be confirmed at home itself. The most common consequence of teenage pregnancy known was low birth weight baby. In context of RTI more than half of subjects gave no response. Unprotected sexual intercourse was the most common cause of HIV known but the mode of prevention was known to few. OCP was commonly known contraceptive with the most common purpose to be to prevent pregnancy. Abortion was found to be another neglected portion of reproductive health.Conclusions:Overall knowledge level was low in all the three streams with significant difference between science and commerce students.