An exploratory study on knowledge and perceptions of parents and teachers on adolescent reproductive and sexual health education in Pondicherry

Pages: 1719-1728
Shaharban N. V., Sibnath Deb, and Fathima Sehra (Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu)

Reproductive and sexual health is an integral part of adolescents’ well-being, the absence of which leads to tension and storm in all realms of life. Any compromise on this factor can really harm the individuals in multiple ways such as bringing teenage and unwanted pregnancy, increasing maternal mortality rate, sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse among adolescents etc. Thus people should be thoroughly and accurately educated about their sexuality and all the other aspects related to it especially when lots of myths and misconceptions are in practice. But in many societies, it is believed that giving proper sexual education to the children brings more harm than good. This concern is really wrong. Parents, teachers and other health workers can play a great role in educating the adolescents on their sexual and reproductive health. But how far the parents and teachers are aware of this matter is a question. Hence the present study examines the knowledge and perceptions of parents and teachers on adolescent reproductive and sexual health education. A group of 62 teachers and 40 parents were selected from various parts of Pondicherry using incidental sampling technique. A structured questionnaire developed by a group of ICMR professionals was used to collect the data and this data was analyzed by using descriptive analysis. The findings show that the level of knowledge and perceptions about adolescent reproductive health issues among teachers and parents is poor and there was not much discussion regarding this issue between adolescents and their parents and teachers, which calls for the introduction of a systematic and comprehensive adolescent reproductive and sexual health education at school levels for molding a healthy generation.