Knowledge, Belief And Practice Regarding Reproductive Health Among Late Adolescent Girls In An Urban Area Of Belgaum

Abstract

Background and Objective The entire period of transition from childhood to adulthood is considered as adolescence. Reproductive health, in particular, represents the most critical area which is an umbrella concept, consisting of several distinct, yet related issues such as abortion, child birth, sexuality, contraception and maternal mortality. Most adolescents go through adolescence with little or no knowledge of the body’s impending physical and physiological changes especially in Indian context, where discussion about sexuality with young children is almost absent. Thus this study was planned with the objective of assessing the knowledge, belief, and practice regarding the reproductive health among late adolescent girls. Methodology A community based cross sectional study was undertaken over a period of one year, in Ashoknagar which is an urban field practice area of J. N. Medical College, Belagavi. A total of 625 late adolescent girls between 16 - 19 years were studied. After obtaining the ethical clearance, pilot study was conducted. Written informed consent was obtained from every participant. Data was collected by house to house visit using a predesigned questionnaire, which included socio-demographic variables, knowledge, belief and practice regarding menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, abortion, RTIs and HIV/AIDS. Statistical analysis was done using percentages and chi square test and ‘p’ value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Result The mean age (±SD) of the study participants was 17.4±1.09 years. The mean age (±SD) at menarche was 12.8+1.73 years. Majority, 79.0% of the adolescents knew that menstruation was a natural cyclical process. Among the 66.6% adolescent girls, who were aware about menstruation before menarche, the major source of information was mother (44.5%). About 68.2% and 58.1% of the girls knew one or more than one method of contraception and symptom of RTI respectively. Nearly half, 50.7% and 45.6% of adolescents correctly knew the full form of HIV and AIDS. Most of the girls (72.3%) believed that the sex education should be provided in high schools and only 12.5% correctly believed that only husband was responsible for the sex of the child. Less than half, 43.4% of the adolescent girls used sanitary pads and around 52.8% of the girls practiced cleaning of external genitalia during menstruation. About 54.4% and 84.0% of girls sought treatment for their menstrual problems and RTIs respectively. Though increase in correct knowledge regarding menstruation lead to increase in correct practice and right belief but there was a gap in knowledge, belief and practice among adolescent girls. Factors like age, religion, socio-economic status and mothers’ literacy were significantly associated both with the use of sanitary pads and practice of perineal hygiene. Conclusion Our study reported good knowledge level and also few misconceptions and wrong beliefs regarding reproductive health among adolescent girls. Less than half of the adolescent girls used sanitary pads and about more than half of the girls practiced perineal hygiene. Treatment seeking practices for menstrual problems and RTIs was on the better side, but specialist care was sought by very few of them. There was a gap in knowledge, belief and practice among adolescent girls which needs to be addressed. Appropriate health education programmes and social marketing of sanitary pads may lead to better hygiene practices among adolescents.