Abstract

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH STATUS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS- AN OVERVIEW OF INDIAN SCENARIO

Sowmya H, Mohan S Singhe

Volume: 5 Issue: 4 2015

Abstract:

Despite the largest percent of the population being in the 10-19 age groups in India, the health needs of adolescents have not addressed adequately; particularly their reproductive health needs are often misunderstood, unrecognized or underestimated. In a conservative society like India, where sexual health related issues are taboo for discussion, young people are hindered from actively seeking counsel for their needs. In many parts of the world, this is the time when girls are moved into the roles of wives and mother and majority of them have little or no education, little or no economic assets or opportunities, few friends or confidantes and little chance to be the subjects of their own development. This result in a situation where adolescents make uninformed choices that could affect their lives and health in a serious and irreversible way. Under this context, this paper presents an overview on sexual and reproductive health of adolescent girls based on a desk review of literature. In view of the issues emerging in the literature, it is prudent that these adolescents alienated from mainstream and they suffer from lack of adequate and appropriate information and education, especially in relation to their reproductive health needs and rights. In time, they fall victim to the social outcomes that deliver negative biological outcomes, including HIV infection and AIDS. Thus present study suggests, provision of adolescent friendly health services and recognition of adolescent needs in policy and in the design of programmatic interventions is a need of the hour which will lead healthy and fulfilling lives of adolescents and truly move towards an inclusive society.

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