Sexual and reproductive knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in a school going population of Sri Lankan adolescents

Abstract

The reproductive and sexual health of adolescents is an important health concern and a focus of global attention. In Sri Lanka, a lack of understanding about adolescent reproductive and sexual health needs is a matter of national concern.A survey was undertaken to examine the sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of school going adolescents in Sri Lanka. A random sample of schools was selected from one district. Data were collected by a self-completion questionnaire and analysed using SPSS. Response rate was 90%. 2020 pupils (26% boys, 74% girls) aged 16-19 years (mean = 16.9) participated, the majority Singhalese (97%).Most reported a good parent-child relationship (88%). A minority (34%) discussed sexual issues with parents. Health professionals were the preferred source of sexual information (32%) rather than parents (12.5%) or friends (5.6%). Less than 1% demonstrated satisfactory sexual and reproductive knowledge levels. 1.7% were sexually active (30 boys vs 5 girls), the majority with same age partners. 57% used contraception at first intercourse.There is an imperative to address the lack of sexual and reproductive knowledge. A minority of school going adolescents become sexually active. These individuals are potentially vulnerable and services need to be developed to meet their needs.

Knowledge and Attitudes on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues Among Sendafa High School and Preparatory Students

“…As reported by the current study 82.9% of the students have awareness about the contraceptive methods, from these 130 (51.5%) and 94 (37.3%) knew male condom and pills respectively. This study is lower than the study conducted in Spain, among university students 86.9% used a contraceptive method during their first sexual relation and the most used contraceptives methods were male condom (90.6%) and hormonal pills [17], in Nigeria, condom was the most frequently mentioned (59.3%) [7], and in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 57% used contraception at first intercourse [12].…”

“…The channels of communication, such as mother-daughter discussions, teacher-student discussions or peer-to-peer programs through which adolescents might receive information on safe sex, relationships, reproductive health and related issues are not widely available in different country [6,10,11]. As reported by Rajapaksa-Hewageegana, N., et al, health professionals were the preferred source of sexual information (32%) rather than parents (12.5%) or friends (5.6%) [12], however Rahimi-Naghani, S., et al, reports friends as the primary or secondary source of knowledge about puberty and sex-related issues [13].…”

The world has much to do to achieve the International Conference on Population and Development's adolescent-health objectives

“…This is in line with studies from a number of other countries, according to a WHO review, "...girls' sexual debut at 14 years or younger remains quite common in a number of developing countries (and in some developed countries as well, such as the United States of America)" [6]. Secondly, the male and female secondary school students -in Sri Lanka [5] and the female college students in the USA [7] had important knowledge gaps and misconceptions about adolescent sexual and reproductive health; in the latter, this was specifically about contraception. This too is in line with studies from a number of countries [8].…”

“…Firstly, a sizable minority of randomly selected boys and girls from two Northern towns of Ethiopia [3,4], and a small proportion of randomly selected adolescent boys and girls in Sri Lanka [5] -in their mid adolescence -reported having initiated sexual activity. This is in line with studies from a number of other countries, according to a WHO review, "...girls' sexual debut at 14 years or younger remains quite common in a number of developing countries (and in some developed countries as well, such as the United States of America)" [6].…”

Sexualidad en hombres adolescentes escolarizados: un análisis comparativo entre instituciones públicas y privadas en Colombia

“…Con relación a los conocimientos, entendidos como la cantidad de información adquirida sobre sexualidad, que pueden ser discriminados como correctos o erróneos en un marco de la salud y la prevención, se ha encontrado en múltiples estudios que los varones tienen mayor desconocimiento con relación a las Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual (its) y su prevención (12,13). Esta brecha en el conocimiento ha presentado diferencias por género en estudios realizados a nivel mundial y latinoamericano (14,15). En sentido contrario, se ha reportado que la población adolescente colombiana tiene un alto nivel de conocimientos en sexualidad, pero un bajo nivel de prácticas de autocuidado (16).…”