scholarly journals Perception of Sexuality and Body Image among Adolescent Girls

2021 ◽  
Vol 08 (01) ◽  
pp. 22-26
Author(s):  
Sneha Parve ◽  

Background: Adolescence is a phase during which major developments of sexuality take place. Development of sexuality is an important bio-psycho-social development, which takes an adult shape during this period. Objective: To study how adolescent girls perceive changes in their bodies during the growing period of adolescence and to study their sexual behaviour during this period. Methodology: The study was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted among adolescent girls undergoing vocational training course at the rural health center. 100 participants enrolled in the institute for the course were included. A semi-structured questionnaire was prepared with informed assent. One to one interviews were conducted maintaining privacy, Data were statistically analysed using SPSS version 23. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 16.02+/-1.2 years. We found that a prior awareness of menses is significantly related to a good feeling after menarche. About a third of the Community Health Workers (CHWs) felt shy or weird about their breast changes during adolescence and 66% were unhappy about their heights. 66% of the adolescents were practising masturbation and 38% among them were open to a physical relationship. 60% of them were not aware of medical intervention and 28% admitted to having experienced sexual assault. Conclusion: Understanding adolescent development and the factors influencing it is of utmost importance as it will help the parents to guide their children in the crossroads of adolescence. Due to incomplete knowledge, accepting bodily changes during adolescence becomes difficult. We, as public health experts, need to commit to an educative practice of support for adolescents.

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
M. Muyenga ◽  
K. Amakali ◽  
W. Wilkinson

Adolescents experience development related challenges more so related to the reproductive health. If they are not guided during this transitional stage, they may reap detrimental results including teenage pregnancy. Despite the existence of the national standards for Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS) for the prevention of among others, teenage pregnancy, adolescent pregnancy continues to rise across the regions of Namibia.This article presents quantitative, descriptive findings of a cross-sectional study regarding the utilization of the Adolescent Active Participation component of the Adolescent Friendly Health Services standards by adolescent girls in Otjozondjupa region of Namibia.Quantitative data were collected (through structured questionnaire) from a sample of 540 (out of 4995 study population) school-going teenage girls as the potential users of the AFHS in Otjozondjupa Region.The findings indicated that, although the standards for the implementation of AFHS exist, adolescent girls do not utilize the services as demonstrated by high percentage (96%) of lack of awareness of the existence of the AFHS among the study participants, low (33%) use of condom among the sexually active study participants, non-participation (92%) of adolescent girls in health care committees as well as lack of participation (91%).  in development and distributions of the Information Education Communication materials (IEC) Therefore, the study recommended the strategies which may accelerate active participations of the adolescents in the implementation of the AFHS standards, particularly in Otjozondjupa region and Namibia at large.


Jurnal Gizi ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
Sari Tirthawati ◽  
Ali Rosidi ◽  
Enik Sulistyowati ◽  
Rr. Annisa Ayuningtyas

The iron-folate tablets program on adolescent girls for anemia prevention still facing some obstacles, especially adherence to consuming them. This study aimed to determine the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and health worker’s support with the adherence of iron-folate tablets consumption. This study was a cross-sectional study, conducted at SMKN 1 Bangsri Jepara. Anumber of 73 respondents were selected by stratified random sampling. The data were obtained through interviews using a questionnaire, and analyzed using Rank Spearman test.The results showed that most respondents had moderate knowledge (54.8%), good attitude (69.9%), and good health worker’s support (65.8%). As much as 82.2% of adolescent girls did not comply to consume iron-folate tablet which were given once in a week. The unpleasant smell and taste of iron-folate was the reason for the respondent’s (31,5%) disiobedient. The statistical tests showed that there were relationships between knowledge and respondent’s compliance (p=0.004;r=0.334), attitude and respondent’s compliance (p=0.000;r=0.543) and health worker’s support with the respondent’s compliance (p=0.000;r=0.544).The health worker’s support variable is the most dominant variable related to the compliance of iron-folate tablets consumption. It is shown that the higher the support from health workers, the higher the compliance of iron-folate tablets consumption.Keywords: Compliance, adolescent girl, iron-folate tablet consumption


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Danny Stampley Boakye ◽  
Collins J. Owek ◽  
Elizabeth Oluoch ◽  
Sefa Bonsu Atakora ◽  
Juddy Wachira ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Malaria continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa. Community Case Management of malaria (CCMm) through engaging Community Health Workers (CHWs) to effectively address management of malaria cases in some endemic communities was explored in this study. We assessed the needs of CHWs that would help sustain and retain their services to enhance the efficient delivery of CCMm.Methods Data on the needs of CHWs was gathered through a qualitative cross-sectional study consisting of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted among study participants in five districts in western Kenya using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study participants comprised of 100 CHWs, 100 mothers of children under five years and 25 key informants made up of public health officers and clinicians involved in the CCMm. The interviews were conducted in English and Swahili or Dholuo, the local language. The recorded audio interviews were transcribed later. The analysis was done using NVivo version 7 software and transcripts were coded after which themes related to the objectives of the study were identified.Results All the study participants recognized the need to train and update CHWs on their work as well as remunerating them for their services to enhance efficient delivery of services. The CHWs on their part perceived the provision of gloves, RDTs, lancets, cotton wool and ethanol, bins (to dispose of RDTs and lancets), together with drugs for treating clients as their essential needs to undertake CCMm in the communities. Other logistical needs and incentives mentioned by CHWs and key informants for the successful delivery of CCMm included: gumboots, raincoats, torch lights, mobile phones, means of transportation (bicycles and motorbikes), uniforms and ID cards for identification.Conclusion CHWs would perform tasks better and their services retained for a sustainable CCMm if properly incentivized, offered refresher trainings (and updates) on malaria and equipped with the requisite tools identified in this study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL4) ◽  
pp. 1703-1708
Author(s):  
Sukanya L ◽  
Roshinidevi Baskaran

The topic of menstrual hygiene has been highly stigmatised in India due to which girls tend to lack awareness regarding various scientific and practical aspects of menstruation. This lack of awareness among adolescent girls regarding menstrual hygiene can lead to negative impacts on their reproductive health. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding menstrual hygiene among school-going adolescent girls. A cross-sectional study using a pre-validated questionnaire was conducted among 168 adolescent school-going girls and found that only 37.3% of the study participants were aware of menstruation before attaining menarche. Only 25.3% of study participants either slept or ate separately from their family members while menstruating. All participants were using sanitary pads and disposed of them after usage indicating no reuse. Proper wrapping and disposal of pads in closed garbage bins was followed by 97% of study participants. A significant association between awareness of the cause of menstruation and the higher class of study was established. Though knowledge about menstruation before attaining menarche is meagre, the practices and attitude regarding were reasonable compared to other studies, mainly attributed to awareness and help received after menarche.


Author(s):  
Bernard Bahaah ◽  
Bright Oppong Afranie ◽  
Sampson Donkor ◽  
Diana Makafui Tuekpe

Background and Aim:  Malaria is known to be the most widespread tropical disease and a chief cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa. This study was conducted to determine some common complications of falciparum malaria in children, from the perspective of healthcare personnel in Kumasi, Ghana. Materials and Methods: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana. The study population included health care professionals working at the children`s unit of the hospital. About 80 healthcare personnel were recruited to partake in the survey for eliciting views on malaria. Questionnaires were used to capture some symptoms and complications of malaria from the health workers’ point of view. Results: More than half of the healthcare personnel were males (52.5%), and majority of the participants were medical officers. The study participants elaborated on some common malaria symptoms among children. Fever recorded the highest frequency, represented by 98.8%, followed by general malaise (97.4%), nausea and vomiting (93.8%), chills (78.8%) and headaches (72.5%). Prostration (45.0%), hyperpyrexia (38.75%) and hypoglycemia (13.75%) were the most frequently reported complications by the respondents. Majority of the participants reported cerebral malaria (30.0%), severe anemia (23.75%), acute respiratory distress (17.5%) and repeated generalized convulsions (16.25%) to be the most lethal feature of complicated malaria infection in children. The overwhelming majority of the respondents (90.0%) use the WHO 2014 standard (page2) as guide for determining complicated malaria. Conclusion: Prostration with hyperpyrexia and hypoglycemia were the most common features of falciparum malaria from the perspective of healthcare personnel in Kumasi, Ghana.


Author(s):  
Diksha . ◽  
Neelu Saluja ◽  
Seema Choudhary ◽  
S. M. Pandey ◽  
Manish Kundu ◽  
...  

Background: Good nutrition during adolescence is critical to cover the deficits suffered during childhood and should include nutrients required to meet the demands of physical and cognitive growth and development, provide adequate stores of energy for illnesses and pregnancy and prevent adult onset of nutrition-related diseases. Poorly nourished adolescent mothers are more likely to give birth to low birth weight babies, perpetuating a cycle of health problems which pass from one generation to the next. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the nutritional status of school going adolescent girls of Agroha block of Haryana.Methods: Study area was two senior secondary and two high schools (randomly selected) of Agroha block of district Hisar (Haryana). Study design was school based cross-sectional study. Study participants were three hundred and forty-four adolescent girls studying in class 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th. Study tool was pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Percentages and Chi- Square. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0 was used.Results: Out of total girls, 8.72% were found to be thin followed by severely thin (0.58%). Thirteen (3.78%) girls were found to be overweight followed by obese (0.58%).Conclusions: Nutritional status of adolescent girls was found to be satisfactory.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jatinder Singh ◽  
Vaneeta Bhardwar ◽  
Anchal Kumra

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is the best nutrition for children during the first six months of life. However EBF remains a challenge.</p><p><strong>Objective:</strong> The aim of the study was to assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards EBF among lactating mothers.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 mothers using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire using 'recall since birth' method. Systematic random sampling was used to select the study participants and descriptive statistics were conducted.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Out of 350 lactating women, maximum women belonged to the age group of 26 to 30 years (31.4%). Maximum of them were from nuclear family (71.7%). 320 lactating mother (91.4%) of study participants had information about EBF.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The majority of mothers knew about EBF and had a positive attitude towards EBF but did not know the recommended duration or that EBF is sufficient for six months. Breastfeeding counselling and health education on nutrition to the mother by health workers should be promoted.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eshetu Yisihak ◽  
Feleke Gebremeskel ◽  
Samuel Abebe ◽  
Desta Markos ◽  
Gebresilasea Gendisha

Abstract Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality among females in Ethiopia. The knowledge regarding human papillomavirus vaccination and its acceptability among adolescent girls affects the human papillomavirus vaccine uptake, however, the status of knowledge of the human papillomavirus vaccination among adolescent girls in Ethiopia, particularly in this study area is not well known. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the knowledge of human papillomavirus vaccination and associated factors among primary school girls in Arba Minch town, South Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study in which 516 school girls participated was conducted on January 24, 2020. The study participants were selected by a simple random sampling technique. A pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was entered to Epi_data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS Version 23 for analysis. The logistic regression model was used to identify the statistically significant variables for knowledge of the human papillomavirus vaccination. Results: The overall knowledge level of the study participants in this study was 71.7%. Their main information source was social media 41.74% followed by health care workers 29.69%. Conclusions: Nearly three-fourths of the study participants were knowledgeable about human papillomavirus vaccination. The knowledge about the human papillomavirus vaccination shows a positive association with age, education level, access to information sources, and parents' educational status. Keywords: Arbaminch town; cervical cancer; Ethiopia; human papillomavirus vaccine; girls; knowledge; schools


Author(s):  
Veena Melwani ◽  
Manju Dubey ◽  
Amreen Khan ◽  
Manju Toppo ◽  
Yachana Choudhary ◽  
...  

Background: Adolescence has been defined by the WHO as the period of life spanning the ages between 10 to 19 years. This is a vulnerable period in the human life cycle for the development of nutritional anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia among adolescents is 27% in developing countries and 6% in developed countries. The study was done with the objective to study the prevalence of anaemia among adolescent girls of selected urban slum of Bhopal.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted for a period of 3 months on adolescent girls residing in selected urban slum of Bhopal. 98 adolescent girls who were registered in Anganwadi and present at time of study were interviewed. The data regarding their socio-demographic profile, anthropometric measurements were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Hemoglobin level was also estimated using Hemocue (Hb 201) and participants were classified as having no, mild, moderate and severe anaemia based on WHO grading of anaemia. Data was compiled using MS Excel and analysed using Epi info 7.Results: Anaemia was present in 57.65% girls. Out of which 34.7% had mild, 44.9% had moderate and 20.4% had severe anaemia. 29.4% knew improper diet as a cause of anaemia followed by Vitamin deficiency (25.8%) and iron deficiency (22.3%). 29.4% girls did not know any cause of anaemia. Similarly 29.4% and 51.7% of study participants did not know of any symptoms and treatment of anaemia respectively.Conclusions: The overall prevalence of anaemia was high among study participants. Knowledge regarding anaemia, its symptoms, causes and treatment was very poor among study participants.


Author(s):  
Nagaraj Shet ◽  
Ghulam Jeelani Qadiri ◽  
Sunita Saldanha ◽  
Gayathri Kanalli ◽  
Prajna Sharma

Background: Health insurance is an important mechanism in the modern world to save the individuals from the huge health shock, even then very high percentage of people even from educated higher income groups are not covered under any health insurance policy. This study was undertaken to know the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding health insurance.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 550 household of Uttar Kannada and Udupi districts. Multistage sampling technique was used.Results: Of the 550 study participants, 384 (69.8%) were BPL card holders. 348 (63.27%) were aware and also subscribed for any type of the health insurance, 115 (20.91%) were aware but did not subscribe while 87 (15.82%) were not aware about it. The main source of information were health workers 185 (39.74%), friends and family 178 (38.44%) and media 99 (21.38%). Of the 348 who had health insurance, only 89 (25.57%) utilized them. Reasons for not availing health insurances other than being unaware were complicated process 85 (42.08%) and provides only partial coverage 49 (24.26%). The main reasons for not using the health insurance were non availability of empanelled hospital 84 (74.34%), disease not being under the scope of scheme 60 (23.17%) and 32 (12.36%) were unaware about the process of availing.Conclusions: Health insurances are the best way to help people reduce their financial burden. Hence it is very important to educate the community regarding the best health insurance available so that they can take the maximum benefits from it.


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