Qualitative Assessment of the Knowledge about Puberty and Reproductive Health among School Going Adolescents of 10-14 Years Age Group in District Varanasi

Abstract

Adolescent age group constitutes 1/5th of the total population and it is a transition period of life. It has been observed that there are certain misbeliefs and misconceptions regarding issues related to adolescence. When pubescent children are not informed of the changes that take place at puberty, it is traumatic to undergo these changes and may develop unfavourable attitudes towards these changes.

Against this backdrop, the aim of the present study is to assess and compare the knowledge of the changes during adolescence among boys and girls of 10-14 years of age in both rural and urban areas.

Focus group discussions were conducted in urban area and rural area government schools, to assess the knowledge of boys and girls. 2 FGDs were conducted on boys and 2 FGDs on girls out of which 1 was conducted in a rural area and 1 in an urban area respectively. Each group consisted of 11-15 boys and girls. The data was analysed by Nvivo software.

Findings show that most of the boys from both areas were aware of the changes during adolescence but misbeliefs and misconceptions were more in boys from rural areas. Majority of the boys from both the groups informed that the health workers do not conduct meetings for improvement of adolescent health. On the contrary, only some girls were aware of the changes during adolescence.