Proceedings of the 30th International Academic Conference, Venice

THE NEED OF EDUCATING ADOLESCENT FEMALES OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN REGARDING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

RIZWANA AMIN, PROF. DR. SHAHIDA SAJJAD

Abstract:

Reproductive Health Awareness is not only neglected but also a taboo issue in Pakistan. The growing age women in Pakistan are hardly aware of reproductive health complications because of reasons linked to socio-cultural and religious factors which are the determinants of inadequate reproductive trends. Menstruation and menstrual practices, hygiene, reproductive tract infection, early pregnancies, infant death, mortality rate, women’s health security, child upbringing by inexperienced young mothers are the fundamental issues faced by Pakistani females and it is directly attached with ignorance of reproductive health know how. This study aimed to discover the need of educating adolescent females of city Karachi regarding reproductive health. The objective of this study was to acquire evidence on current awareness and insights on puberty and reproductive health needs. The research followed a quantitative and pragmatic approach enabling empirical analysis along with shedding light on the facts and figures. The data was collected through convenient sampling from four schools in the urban and rural areas of the city, Karachi and analyzed through descriptive statistic, linear regression and Kruskal Wallis Test. The analysis of the data indicated that awareness regarding reproductive health amongst adolescents is very minimal along with guidance and counseling provided to them at home and in school. The study highlighted the fact that education and medical facility available in schools have a significant impact on reproductive health awareness but the schools in Pakistan of both the rural and urban areas lack in mass awareness on reproductive health. The conclusion and observation leads to creating channels for imparting knowledge and awareness regarding reproductive health and its needs to the adolescents. It is recommended to create awareness amongst youth especially females by integrating it into school curriculum from grades 5 onwards or by conducting reproductive health awareness seminars in schools at different intervals.

Keywords: Reproductive health education, reproductive health awareness, reproductive health problems

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2017.030.002

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