CREATING AWARENESS IN

ADOLESCENTS ON SEXUAL HEALTH

FOCUSING ON STDs IN SELECTED
SCHOOLS OF COIMBATORE,
TAMILNADU, INDIA
By
Mrs. P. Sathya
Asst.Professor
PSG College of Nursing
 INTRODUCTION
Adolescence is a time of tremendous
opportunity and change. It is also a
time of heightened vulnerabilities. They
have needs that differ from those of
adults in important ways. The needs of
adolescents remain poorly understood
or served in much of the world.
Adolescent health is directly linked to the
behaviour which is developed and modified
within the sphere of family and social
environment. Development of healthy sexual
behaviour among adolescents depends
upon a conducive environment in which they
live and the interactions of the adolescents
themselves
With an estimated 1 billion
adolescents alive today, the world is
experiencing the largest adolescent
population in history.Neglect of this
population has major implications for
the future, since sexual and
reproductive behaviours during
adolescence have far reaching
consequences for the people lives as
they develop into adulthood.
 Central Objective
Assessment Of Knowledge And
Attitude Of Adolescents On sexual
health concentrating on STDs and
creating awareness among them to
promote healthy behaviour
METHODOLOGY
• Educational intervention to promote
healthy life styles in adolescents
• Students studying in Ninth and
Eleventh standard of St. Thomas
Higher Secondary School in rural area
and corporation Higher secondary
School in urban area were selected
• Structure questionnaire was used to
assess the knowledge and attitude of
adolescents on STDs.

• Questionnaire consists of three parts

I. Base line data
II. Knowledge on STDs
III. Attitude on STDs
 DATA
INTERPRETATION
AND FINDINGS
The age of the students varied
between 14 years to 18 years but
majority of the students ( 48% ) were in
the age group of 16 years. Among 44
students 25 were males and 19 were
females.
72% of the students were studying in 11th
standard and 28% were studying in 9th
standard. The level of the students
considered because basic information on
STD and AIDS has been included in 10th
standard curriculum

80% of the students heard about STDs .

most of them got information from subject
books .
Sources Of Information On Sexually Transmitted Disease

44

40

36

32

28
No. of Students

24

20

16

12

0
Subject books Radio Television Magazines None
Source
KNOWLEDGE ON
STDs
 Knowledge On Diseases Transmitted By Sexual Contact

2%
32%
35%

31%

AIDS HIV Sexually Transmitted Diseases Hepatitis

 Misconception On Spread Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

44
40
36
32
No. of Students

28
24 Pre Tes
20 Post Te
16
12
8
4
0
Sneezing or Shaking hands Sharing food and Sharing utensils Playing together Bed bugs and Public transport
coughing clothes and common mosqiuto bites
toilet
Misconceptions
Regarding signs of STDs only 10% of
them had an idea that itching or ulcer in
genital organ as a sign of STDs. 25%
of them were not aware of the
preventive measures of STDs, in
contrary 45% had an idea that safe sex
is the best way to prevent STDs
 Comparison Of Pre Test And Post Test Knowledge Score Of Students On Sexually Transmitted Diseases

50

45

40

35

30
Score

Pre Test Score

25
Post Test Score
20

15
10

0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43
No. of Students
ASSESSMENT OF
ATTITUDE
• 86.36 % of the students accepted that
medical care is essential whereas in
pretest 56.82 % expressed that medical
care is important for the treatment of
STDs
• All of them had a common opinion that
teenagers need to be educated on
STDs. But 48% of them considered that
revealing the problem of STDs affect
social stigma of an individual
75% of the Students felt free to discuss the sexual
matters with friends than any other member which
indicates that students are prone to be misguided
only 35% of the students were interested to clarify
their queries with teachers and parents on this
issue. Students were receptive and were keen to
have a clear idea on sexual health. Inhibitions on
free and frank discussion on healthy sexual life
with other members of the society namely
parents,teachers,health personnel’s was
overcome
 Comparison Of Pre Test And Post Test Attitude Score Of Students On Sexually Transmitted Diseases

50

45

40

35

30
Score

25
Pre Test
20
Post Test
15

10

0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43

No. of Students
IMPLICATIONS OF THE
STUDY
 Inservice education to teachers on sex
related issues, alternative approaches like
mailbox, body mapping, mind mapping will
be helpful to assess and teach the students
on sexual aspects
 Comprehensive curricula must be
developed, that educates students in a
progressive manner and is synchronized
with their developmental changes
 Counseling sessions for parents can be
conducted on various approaches to keep
their children informed on sex related issues
 A special committee should be appointed in
the schools to observe student’s behaviour.

 School authorities should appoint a

guidance and counselling cell under the
guidance of experts
CONCLUSION
Today’s adolescents are the adults of
tomorrow. Their health and
resourcefulness will be a major factor
in determining the health of the coming
generation. Development of healthy
sexual behavior among adolescents
depends upon the conducive
environment in which they live.
Information on STDs need to be
imparted among adolescents at the
secondary and higher secondary level.
On going educational programme
would increase interaction with the
adolescents assist them to come
forward for counselling, thus maintain
healthy adolescent reproductive
behavior which will empower them.
THANK YOU