A Study of the Perception of Adolescents Regarding Reproductive and Sexual Health (UGC Sponsored Minor Research Project)

Abstract

Adolescence is one of life's fascinating and perhaps most complex stage, a time when young people take on new responsibilities and experiment with independence. Adolescent's sexuality refers to sexual feelings, behaviors, attitude and development in adolescents and is a vital aspect of young people's lives.  

The present paper is based on UGC Sponsored Minor research which was undertaken to study the perception of adolescents regarding reproductive & sexual health. The major objectives of the study were, to study the perception of adolescents regarding the reproductive and sexual health and to find out the differences in the perception of adolescents in components like life style, attitude towards social status, sexual relations, precautions in sexual relations, and physical attraction according to selected variables like Income group, gender, age, co-ed & unisex college, and nature of residence.

The study was conducted on 174 adolescents from undergraduate and postgraduate colleges of Mumbai & Baroda cities. The survey method was adopted and questionnaire was used as tool for collection of data.

The major findings of the study reveal that, there is significant association between lifestyle & variables like income level (P.000*); Gender (t 8.09*); Age (P.041*); Nature of College (t 9.87*) and Nature of residence (p.000*). Gender is found significantly related with perception regarding sexual relations (t 6.56*).The variables Income Level (P.007) and Gender (-3.46*) are found significantly related to precautions during sexual relationship.

Adolescents belonging to high income group are involved more in high lifestyle habits like excessive spending , partying hard, drinking, smoking , sexual relations , going to pub, etc; the male adolescents are involved more into high lifestyle habits ; the involvement of mature adolescents is more than younger adolescents; further, the adolescents studying in Co- Ed colleges and those staying separately from parents are having high life style habits than their counterparts.

The female adolescents are found more open minded and interested in having sexual relationship ; high income group adolescents are more keen in taking precautions during sexual relationship and male adolescents are more concerned for taking precautions in sexual relations..

The present paper suggests that Initiative must be taken to create a supportive environment that would positively influence knowledge, attitude, perceptions, skills and behaviour of adolescents and also help in increasing access and use of sexual and reproductive health services.