A study on sexual behaviour practiced by the adolescent and its source of inspiration
Background: Adolescence is a developmental period of rapid physical, psychological, sociocultural, and cognitive changes characterized by efforts to confront and surmount challenges and to establish a sense of identity and autonomy. Objective was to study the sexual behavior practiced by the adolescent and its source of inspiration.Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out in Department of Community Medicine, Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad and Urban area of district Ghaziabad. 750 Adolescents aged 10 to 19 years studying in the selected schools of urban Ghaziabad were included for the study. The period of study was from November 2011 to October 2012.Results: 26.8% of the students were sexually active. Boys were sexually more active than girls (34.7% vs. 18.9%). Condom use was present in 51.2% of the sexually active students. Nearly half (52.3%) of sexually active males had sex under the influence of pornography, almost one-third (32.3%) had sex merely because of peer pressure and 15.4% did it for curiosity and fun. Among girls who experienced sex 70.4% succumbed to peer pressure and 23.9% under the influence of pornography. In the present study more boys (77.9%) than girls (54.1%) had knowledge about reproductive health issues and this difference between two sexes were found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: The present health status of the study population has the potential possibility of leading to increased health problems for this vulnerable population, in future.