Youth, Sexuality and Reproductive Health Education

By : Anagha Lavalekar

Page No: 109-119

Abstract
This paper focuses on an effort to shape attitudes of youth for effective population management and gender sensitization through a scientifically planned and executed education program in Sexuality and healthfor Indian youth ages 14-19(total N= 540). Young people need access to information about the consequences of becoming sexually active including the risk of teenage pregnancy, and other health hazards such as the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. It is important to provide clear, scientifically accurate and gender sensitive information to young people as they enter adolescence. Population is an issue of concern around the world, particularly in the third world where limited resources may fail to meet the growing needs. The challenge is to make the best possible use of existing human resources. This experimental study shows how to teach healthy attitudes towards sexuality through condensed or spread out interventions. We used the: ‘Stepping into Youth” - knowledge test, attitude scale and gender concepts scale. We found a significant positive change in the knowledge and attitude and a positive but not significant change in the gender concepts irrespective of the treatment type or age groups. It indicates that different age groups are sensitive to special areas of sexuality showing that shaping attitudes of youth can be an effective way of population management and gender sensitization which can be tailor made as per cultural needs.

Author :
Anagha Lavalekar : Jnana Prabodhini’s Institute of Psychology, 510, Sadashiv Peth, Pune 411 030, India