Comparison of Reproductive Health Awareness in Adolescent School Girls of Rural and Urban Areas of Belgaum Taluka –A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: 1. To assess the reproductive health awareness in adolescent school girls of rural and urban areas of Belgaum taluka. 2. To compare the knowledge on various aspects of reproductive health in rural and urban adolescent girls regarding  Menstrual hygiene and problems  Pregnancy, contraception and MTP  HIV/AIDS and STDS  Legal age of marriage Study design: A Cross sectional study Study population: Urban and rural school girls of Belgaum taluka Sample size: 706 urban school girls and 696 rural school girls from Belgaum taluka Methodology: Urban schools from each of the four zones of Belgaum city and rural schools from the three primary health centres attached to the JN Medical College were selected by random sampling method. A written consent was taken from the Principal of the concerned schools. X A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used which included questions on menstruation, pregnancy, contraception and MTP, modes of spread and prevention of HIV/STDs, and legal age of marriage in girls and boys. The questions were explained to the students and they were asked to answer the questions. Results: Mean age of menarche was found to be earlier in urban girls than rural girls. Menstrual hygiene was poor in rural girls. Dysmenorrhea was the commonest problem in both the groups but very few rural girls approached a doctor for their menstrual problems. The knowledge regarding how pregnancy occurs and contraceptives was more in urban girls. Condoms were the most known contraceptives. About equal number of girls ( 85% ) knew the legal minimum age of marriage in girls , however more number of urban girls knew the correct legal age of marriage in boys. Small family norm was known to only few girls. Only 35.27% urban girls had preference for a son as compared to half of the rural girls. More than 70% girls in both the groups knew that HIV is transmitted through sexual route and blood transfusion. However the knowledge regarding the modes of prevention was more in urban than in rural girls. Majority of the urban girls wanted mandatory HIV testing before marriage. Awareness about MTP, its legalization and safety was extremely poor. There was no awareness about unsafe abortions and its complications in both urban and rural girls. XI Conclusion: The awareness amongst adolescent girls regarding various aspects of reproductive health is poor which can lead to adverse health consequences. Adolescents in many countries are currently deterred from seeking help at health facilities for various reasons. The basic information about the physiology of menstruation and its abnormalities, menstrual hygiene, knowledge about pregnancy and contraception, HIV/AIDS /STDS, MTP and unsafe abortions should be provided to the adolescent girls which will help them to safeguard themselves and improve their health