Adolescents Knowledge and Attitude towards Sexual and Reproductive Health in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)

Abstract

With a staggering adolescent population of 253 million, India stands as the world's epicenter of youth. Adolescence, a distinctive phase marked by active physical and psychological growth, often initiates the exploration of romantic and sexual realms. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to various reproductive and sexual health vulnerabilities such as unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, reproductive tract infections, and the heightened risk of maternal and infant mortality. This susceptibility is accentuated in regions where healthcare services are constrained and knowledge regarding health matters is limited. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in the year 2022, with due ethical considerations, among students in the 9th to 12th grades (n=322) in Bhopal District, Madhya Pradesh, a region where utilisation of Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) services remains notably modest. The objectives were to assess the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents regarding SRH and to find the relationship between the knowledge and attitude. Data was collected in schools from adolescents aged 14 to 18 years, using researcher-developed structured questionnaires. The findings revealed that the majority (50.9%) of participants had poor knowledge, 34.5 percent showed moderate knowledge and 14.6 percent exhibited good knowledge. About 60 percent of the participants expressed a favorable attitude towards sexual and reproductive health (SRH). The relationship between knowledge and attitude was positive but weak. These outcomes collectively underscore the need for improving adolescents' SRH knowledge and attitudes in the region. Focusing efforts towards comprehensive SRH education and promoting well-informed attitudes may help reduce the adolescents’ susceptibility to SRH vulnerabilities.