scholarly journals Mothers' Knowledge about the Reproductive Health Needs of their Adolescent Girls

1970 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-12
Author(s):  
B Zaman ◽  
RM Shampa ◽  
MA Rahman

Introduction: Adolescent is an important segment of life while a child undergoes biological transformation.Objective: The study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge of mothers about reproductive health needs of their adolescent girls. Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted on the mothers having adolescent girls. Data was collected by face to face interview with a semi structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS. The knowledge of mothers was assessed by Likert scale.Place of study: The study was conducted at 5 schools of Dhaka city on 118 respondents over a period of four months.Results: It was revealed from the findings that among 118 mothers the mean age of respondents were 40.71 years with standard deviation ± 3.707 years. Majority (70%) of respondents were undergraduate qualified and rest were post graduats. Among the respondents, 64% of mothers did not want to provide information on reproductive health to their daughters. Seventy two percent of the respondents had average knowledge about puberty. Among the respondents, 47% had average knowledge regarding adolescent reproductive health problems and 77% of respondents had average knowledge about safe motherhood. Regarding the complication of unsafe abortion, 73% had average knowledge and 70% had average knowledge about consequence of early pregnancy. Fifty seven percent of the respondents had good knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Sixty one percent of the respondents had good knowledge regarding the high risk behaviour of the adolescents. Significant statistical association was found between knowledge and education, knowledge and occupation, and knowledge and source of information of reproductive health (p<0.05).Conclusion: The study findings may be helpful for baseline information and would be beneficial to the policymakers and programme planners to sophisticate further strategy to increase mothers' knowledge about the reproductive health needs of their adolescent girls.Key words: Knowledge; adolescent; reproductive health needs DOI: 10.3329/jafmc.v6i2.7266JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 6, No 2 (December) 2010 pp.9-12

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Musibau A. Titiloye ◽  
Ademola J. Ajuwon

Communication between parents and adolescents on Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) issues are emerging public health concerns in Nigeria; yet they can be tackled through parents’ intervention. This study was designed to document the parents’ knowledge and quality of communication relating to ARH between parents and their adolescents in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in two Local Government Areas in the state. Interviewer-administered instruments were used to collect data from the parents and adolescents pair. Both instruments included a 28-point knowledge scale and questions on ARH practices. The instrument for adolescents contained an additional 15-point Perceived Quality of ARH Communication (PQARHC). Knowledge scores ≤9, ≤10-18 and ≥20 were categorized as poor, fair and good, respectively for both parents and adolescents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chisquare tests at P=0.05. Ages of adolescents were 13.9±2.4 years while parents’ ages was 42.6±8.5 years. Parent’s and adolescents knowledge scores 22.6±3.4 and 19.4±5.9, respectively with no significant difference. Adolescents whose parents ever discussed ARH issues with them were 20.9% as against 72.1% by the parents. The proportion of parents and adolescents with good knowledge of ARH were 89.4% and 64.7% with no significant difference while the proportion of Adolescents’ PQARHC with their parents was adjudged to be of good quality communication was 82.2% with P&gt;0.05. Both the parents and adolescents had good knowledge of adolescent reproductive health but practice and quality of communication was poor. Therefore, training intervention to improve the adolescent- parent communication is recommended for the parents.


Author(s):  
Mohamed M. Abd El-Mawgod ◽  
Shimaa A. Elghazally ◽  
Heba M. Mohammed ◽  
Mariam Roshdy Elkayat ◽  
Doaa M. M. Osman

Abstract Background A healthy youth is considered the major human resource for any country development. They are suffering from unmet health needs. Considering these needs and their attitude towards the use of youth health center (YHC) services would help to improve both the quality and quantity of these services. Objectives To identify the students’ perceived health needs and their attitude towards use of the YHCs in Assiut University campus, Upper Egypt a cross-sectional study was conducted among 305 randomly selected university students. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results The majority of the students (80%) said that youth have special health needs. The most reported needs were psychological support, health education on different topics including reproductive health and sexually transmitted diseases, and nutritional services respectively. There was a high perception among surveyed students (71.5%) that the existing health services are inadequate for meeting their needs. Counseling, laboratory services, and premarital examination were the most frequently reported services mentioned by youth to be offered in YHCs. The majority (78.1%) preferred the health provider to be of the same sex. Despite the prevailing conservative culture in Upper Egypt, the students had positive attitude towards availability of sexual and reproductive information and establishment of a YHC in the university campus. A low awareness rate (15.1%) about the already existing YHC in university campus was revealed. Conclusion University students perceived that there are unmet needs for youth-specialized services, mainly for providing sexual and reproductive information, and establishment of an on-campus YHC. The study provides important information for policymakers about the perspectives of youth which should be taken into consideration when new YHC are planned and implemented.


Author(s):  
Susmita Ghosh ◽  
Md Ruhul Kabir ◽  
Mohammad Rahanur Alam ◽  
Akibul Islam Chowdhury ◽  
Md Abdullah Al Mamun

AbstractObjectivesAdolescence, a crucial period for growth velocity including sexual maturation, is an important period of life and young adolescent girls need to have proper knowledge, positive attitudes and practice of balanced diet to achieve optimum growth and development. Considering its importance this study attempts to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of balanced diets among adolescent schoolgirls in Noakhali district, Bangladesh.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in three secondary schools in Noakhali district, Bangladesh. A multistage sampling techniques was used to select schools and study participants. A total of 485 adolescent school girls participated and a pre-designed, validated and structured questionnaire was used for data collection. In addition to descriptive statistics, chi-square test and logistic regression were employed for analysis.ResultsThe results from the study revealed that more than half of the students did not have good knowledge about a balanced diet, 42.8% had a positive attitude, whereas the practice of consuming a balanced diet was rather low (only 4.5%). Students studying in government schools had better knowledge and attitudes than non-government school students. Moreover, 41.1% of students were underweight; more than 60% of respondent’s mothers did not have an education higher than secondary school and were mostly unemployed housewives. Parent’s education, mother’s occupation, and types of school have a strong association with KAP; however, father’s education and occupation showed an association of varying degrees. Being knowledgeable was related to positive attitudes, and students with good knowledge had (OR: 1.828; 95% CI: 1.270–2.631) more likely to have positive attitudes towards a balanced diet.ConclusionsThus, proper knowledge about a balanced diet should be introduced with basic nutritional knowledge to all levels of public education. Interventions and programs can be designed to improve knowledge, attitude, and more specifically the practice at the household level so that adolescent girls can have a proper diet during their sexual maturation phase.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-574
Author(s):  
Nasreen Akther ◽  
Meherunnessa Begum ◽  
Tamanna Tasmin ◽  
Khondoker Saif Imtiaz ◽  
Ahmed Nawsher Alam ◽  
...  

Background: In Bangladesh there is a scarcity of data on the degree of knowledge amongadolescents about reproductive health. Objective: To assess the awareness about reproductivehealth issues among adolescent girls in a rural area of Bangladesh. Materials and method: Thisdescriptive type of cross sectional study was conducted among 148 adolescent girls who wereselected purposively at PurbaChandara village of Kaliakairthana of Shafipurupazilla of Gazipurdistrict in Bangladesh. A pre-tested semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data byface to face interview. Results: Most of the respondents (76.35%) were within the age group of15-19 years. The average age of their menarche was 14 years. Majority of the respondents 136(91.89%) had history of menstruation and 97 (65.54%) mentioned the duration of menstrualcycle > 7 days. Regarding the hygienic practice during menstruation, majority of them (68.24%)were unhygienic. About knowledge on age at marriage, 131 (88.51%) reportedly mentionedcorrect answer that marriage age is 18 years or more for girls. Regarding the knowledge onfamily planning and family planning methods, most of them (41.89%) had no knowledge.About the infection of reproductive tract, 87 (58.78%) had no knowledge and about half of therespondents (92; 56.79%) had no knowledge about symptoms of STDs. Conclusion: it is ourresponsibility to improve the condition of adolescent girls by giving clear and correct knowledgeon reproductive health which will help them to maintain a good and sound reproductive healthin future. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(3) 2020 p.567-574


2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Bruce ◽  
Shelley Clark

This brief is based on a background paper prepared for the WHO/UNFPA/Population Council Technical Consultation on Married Adolescents, held in Geneva, Switzerland, December 9–12, 2003. The final paper is entitled “Including married adolescents in adolescent reproductive health and HIV/AIDS policy.” The consultation brought together experts from the United Nations, donors, and nongovernmental agencies to consider the evidence regarding married adolescent girls’ reproductive health, vulnerability to HIV infection, social and economic disadvantage, and rights. The relationships to major policy initiatives—including safe motherhood, HIV, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights—were explored, and emerging findings from the still relatively rare programs that are directed at this population were discussed. Married adolescent girls are outside the conventionally defined research interests, policy diagnosis, and basic interventions that have underpinned adolescent reproductive health programming and many HIV/AIDS prevention activities. They are an isolated, often numerically large, and extremely vulnerable segment of the population, largely untouched by current intervention strategies. As stated in this brief, promoting later marriage, to at least age 18, and shoring up protection options within marriage may be essential means of stemming the epidemic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zakaria ◽  
Junfang Xu ◽  
Farzana Karim ◽  
Subarna Mazumder ◽  
Feng Cheng

Abstract Background: Improving the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of adolescent girls is one of the primary agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adequate and accurate knowledge, favorable attitude, safe behavior, and regular practice contribute to the adolescent girls’ SRH, maternal, and child health. In the background, this study aims to explore the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of SRH among college-going older adolescent girls in Chittagong district, Bangladesh. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four colleges among the older adolescent girls age group of 16-17 (N = 792) attending a higher secondary grade in Chittagong district. Data were collected using a structured and self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were used to summarize the SRH-related KAP and identify the associated factors, respectively. Results: 62% of study participants had the awareness that both physical and psychological changes occur in the adolescence period, while only 36% knew that menstruation is not a disease. Besides, only 30% of adolescent girls were informed about taking birth control has no adverse effect on the sexual relationship of a couple. Moreover, only 40% of students were learned that HIV could not be spread through the mosquito and flea, whereas only 25% knew that transmission of HIV is unlikely from an infected person’s coughing and sneezing. Of older adolescent girls, 35% disagreed perfectly whether sexual education can lead to more sexual activity. Besides, more or less 20% of participants opined that adolescent girls should refrain from going outside even to the school, entering into the kitchen, touching anyone, brushing hair, and see in the mirror. Moreover, 52% of adolescent girls wanted to learn more details about SRH, while 48% felt timid and afraid of their puberty changes. Besides, 62.5% of adolescent girls reported their using cloth during the menstrual cycle instead of the sanitary pad. Standardized coefficients beta (β) and p value < .05 in linear regression analyses explored that adolescent girls’ study of science, urban residence, reading or watching SRH contents on the mass media appeared as the more significant predictors for outcome variables. Conclusion: Many problems related to SRH exist among older adolescent girls in Bangladesh, such as behaviors and social constraints associated with menstruation, myths, and assumptions, recognition of the value of awareness and knowledge of reproductive health. Therefore, strengthening SRH-related comprehensive education programs incorporating into the curriculum, effective use of mass media, and supplying behavioral change communication materials are essential.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Lilik Pranata

Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being not only free from disease or disability in all aspects related to the reproductive system, its functions and processes. Reproductive health includes: reproductive organs, adolescent sexual behavior, pregnancy, risky sexual behavior of adolescents, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).Objective: Knowing the image of young women's knowledge about reproductive health class X SMAN 1 Lalan Musi Banyuasin.Method: Descriptive quantitative by using Cross Sectional design done with interview technique with questioner to 60 respondents with purposive sampling technique.Results: Knowledge of reproduction tools, 34 respondents (56.7%) had enough knowledge and 11 respondents (18.3%) had good knowledge. Knowledge of adolescent sexual behavior, 25 respondents (41,6) have enough knowledge and 16 respondents (26,7%) have good knowledge. Knowledge of pregnancy, 33 respondents (55%) have enough knowledge and 5 respondents (8.3%) have good knowledge. Knowledge about risky sexual behavior, 25 respondents (42%) have less knowledge and 13 respondents (21.6%) have good knowledge. Knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), 35 respondents (58.3%) had less knowledge and 7 respondents (11.7%) had good knowledge. Improving adolescent knowledge should be carried out for health counseling to schools, as well as providing additional materials on reproductive health and using UKS facilities to the maximum extent possible.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Binezero Mambo ◽  
Franck K. Sikakulya ◽  
Robinson Ssebuufu ◽  
Yusuf Mulumba ◽  
Henry Wasswa ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic threatens access to sexual and reproductive health services. With global health emergencies, there is often a total reversal of priorities and access to sexual and reproductive health services may become challenging. The aim of this study was to establish the problems related to sexual and reproductive health among Ugandan youths during the COVID-19 lockdown. MethodsThis was an online cross-sectional study carried out from April 2020 to May 2020 in Uganda. An online questionnaire was used and participants aged 18years to 30 years recruited using the snowballing approach. The statistical analysis was done using STATA version 14.2.Results Out of 724 participants, 203 (28%) reported not having information and/or education concerning sexual and reproductive health (SRH). About a quarter of the participants (26.9%, n=195) reported not having testing and treatment services of sexually transmitted infections available during the lockdown. Lack of transport means was the commonest (68.7%) limiting factor to access to SRH services during the lockdown followed by the long distance from home to SRH facility (55.2%), high cost of services (42.2%) and curfew (39.1%). Sexually transmitted infections were the commonest (40.4%) problem related to SRH during the lockdown followed by unwanted pregnancy (32.4%) and sexual abuse (32.4%). The multivariate regression analysis shows that problems were more prevalent among the co-habiting youth [APR: 2.3 (1.6 - 3.29), p<0.001] followed by unemployed (volunteer or unpaid) [APR: 1.6 (1.03 - 2.64), p: 0.037] than in other participants. ConclusionsThe findings of this study show that Ugandan youths have accessing SRH information and services during the COVID-19 lockdown. Cohabiting and unemployed participants were the most affected. Lack of transport means and high cost of services were the major limiting factors to access SRH services among the youths. The findings call for concerted efforts from the Uganda government and international non-governmental organisations to ensure access and availability of SRH services for Ugandan youths during the COVID-19 lockdown.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e033976
Author(s):  
Frantz Jean Louis ◽  
Guethina Galbaud ◽  
Maureen Leonard ◽  
Emmanuel Pericles ◽  
Ito Journel ◽  
...  

ObjectivesOver the last 15 years, the prevalence of HIV in Haiti has stabilised to around 2.0%. However, key populations remain at higher risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The prevalence of HIV is 12.9% among men having sex with men (MSM). There is limited information about the prevalence of other STI in the Haitian population in general and even less among key populations. We assessed the burden ofChlamydia trachomatis(CT) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) and risk factors for infections among MSM in Haiti.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted. MSM were recruited from seven health facilities in Port-au-Prince. All samples were tested by nucleic acid amplification test, using GeneXpert. A survey was administered to the participants to collect socio-demographic, clinical and risk behaviour data.ResultsA total of 216 MSM were recruited in the study. The prevalence rates of CT and NG were 11.1% and 16.2%, respectively. CT NG co-infections were found in 10/216 (4.6%) of the participants. There were 39 MSM with rectal STI compared with 17 with genital infections. Participants between 18–24 and 30–34 years old were significantly more likely to be infected with NG than those aged 35 years or older (OR: 22.96, 95% CI: 2.79 to 188.5; OR: 15.1, 95% CI: 1.68 to 135.4, respectively). Participants who never attended school or had some primary education were significantly more likely to be infected with NG than those with secondary education or higher (OR: 3.38, 95% CI: 1.26 to 9.07). People tested negative for HIV were significantly more likely to be infected with CT than people living with HIV/AIDS (OR: 3.91, 95% CI: 1.37 to 11.2).ConclusionsPeriodic risk assessment and testing for STI should be offered in Haiti as part of a comprehensive strategy to improve the sexual health of key populations.


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