T Sharanya1. 1. World Association of Medical Editors.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls dwelling in slums are vulnerable to poor reproductive health due to lack of awareness about reproductive health and low life skills. These girls are in a crucial stage of their life cycle and their health can impact the health of future generations. Despite adolescents comprising almost one-quarter of the Indian population they are ill served in terms of reproductive health. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done among 130 slum-dwelling adolescent girls, aged 13-19 years, using multistage sampling method from five slums in Chennai, southern India. The reproductive and menstrual morbidity profile, personal and environmental menstrual hygiene was assessed to determine their reproductive health-seeking behaviour and life skills. RESULTS: Ninety-five (73%) girls (95% CI 66.23-81.36) reported menstrual morbidity and 66 (51%; 95% CI 50.74-52.25) had symptoms suggestive of reproductive/urinary tract infection. Of the girls surveyed, 55 (42%) were married. Nearly 25% (95% CI 23.07-26.92) of the married girls had a history of abortion and 18% (95% CI 11.32-25.07) had self-treated with medications for the same. Contraceptive use among ever-married girls was 22.7% (95% CI 20.83-24.56). Even though 75% of respondents knew about HIV/AIDS, their knowledge of modes of transmission and prevention were low (39% and 19%, respectively). Almost 39% of respondents felt shame or insecurity as the key barrier for not seeking reproductive healthcare. About 52% had low life skill levels. On logistic regression, menstrual morbidity was high among those with low life skills, symptoms suggestive of reproductive/urinary tract infection were high among those who were married before 14 years of age and life skills were high among those who belonged to the scheduled caste community. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of menstrual/reproductive morbidity, self-treated abortion and low knowledge about modes of HIV transmission/prevention and use of contraceptives among adolescent girls in slums in Chennai. There is a need to initiate community-level life skill education, sex education and behaviour change communication. Copyright 2014, NMJI.
BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls dwelling in slums are vulnerable to poor reproductive health due to lack of awareness about reproductive health and low life skills. These girls are in a crucial stage of their life cycle and their health can impact the health of future generations. Despite adolescents comprising almost one-quarter of the Indian population they are ill served in terms of reproductive health. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done among 130 slum-dwelling adolescent girls, aged 13-19 years, using multistage sampling method from five slums in Chennai, southern India. The reproductive and menstrual morbidity profile, personal and environmental menstrual hygiene was assessed to determine their reproductive health-seeking behaviour and life skills. RESULTS: Ninety-five (73%) girls (95% CI 66.23-81.36) reported menstrual morbidity and 66 (51%; 95% CI 50.74-52.25) had symptoms suggestive of reproductive/urinary tract infection. Of the girls surveyed, 55 (42%) were married. Nearly 25% (95% CI 23.07-26.92) of the married girls had a history of abortion and 18% (95% CI 11.32-25.07) had self-treated with medications for the same. Contraceptive use among ever-married girls was 22.7% (95% CI 20.83-24.56). Even though 75% of respondents knew about HIV/AIDS, their knowledge of modes of transmission and prevention were low (39% and 19%, respectively). Almost 39% of respondents felt shame or insecurity as the key barrier for not seeking reproductive healthcare. About 52% had low life skill levels. On logistic regression, menstrual morbidity was high among those with low life skills, symptoms suggestive of reproductive/urinary tract infection were high among those who were married before 14 years of age and life skills were high among those who belonged to the scheduled caste community. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of menstrual/reproductive morbidity, self-treated abortion and low knowledge about modes of HIV transmission/prevention and use of contraceptives among adolescent girls in slums in Chennai. There is a need to initiate community-level life skill education, sex education and behaviour change communication. Copyright 2014, NMJI.
Authors: Nahela Nowshin; Lydia Kapiriri; Colleen M Davison; Sheila Harms; Betty Kwagala; Miriam G Mutabazi; Anne Niec Journal: Sex Reprod Health Matters Date: 2022-12
Authors: Tanvi Nitin Deshpande; Supriya Satish Patil; Supriti Balaram Gharai; S R Patil; P M Durgawale Journal: J Family Med Prim Care Date: 2018 Nov-Dec