Background: Adolescence lays the foundation for physical wellbeing, emotional stability and mental ability. Quantitative methods often lack depth of understanding on crucial issues and leave many lacunae in the information available about the problems faced by adolescent girls in India. Using qualitative methods, a researcher can go beyond the surface and gather hidden information and associated feelings. Objective of the research was to qualitatively assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of health among adolescent girls (15-19 years) living in a rural area.Methods: This qualitative study to explore issues surrounding the health of adolescent girls in a rural area was conducted from August 2018 to November 2018 in the rural field practice area of the NRI Medical College. The qualitative methods used to gather information were focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs). Triangulation of information was done through key informant interviews (KIIs) with professionals working with adolescents.Results: The themes identified were causes of stress, education & marriage, safe pregnancy, prevalent diseases, exercise and leisure, health seeking behaviour and domestic violence. In-depth interviews with girls having significant social and psychological risk factors revealed a sense of loss of freedom, decision making power and resignation to their fate. Key informants revealed the neglect of adolescents in health programmes.Conclusions: Adolescent girls have poor knowledge about important health issues. Interventions that focus both on the continuation of the girls’ education and creating options for generating income are necessary along with non-judgmental counseling services and adolescent friendly health care facilities.

Background: Adolescence is a distinct phase of complex developmental and psychological needs. UNICEF states that suicide is the second leading cause of death in this age group of young girls. A myriad of social, economic and health factors undermine the ability of the adolescents to lead full and productive lives. There is a need to study these factors as they are bound to health-related outcomes.Objective: To assess the psycho-social health of adolescent girls (15-19 years) living in a rural area using WHO HEEADSSS questionnaire and to compare their psychosocial risk profiles and demographic profiles to identify important risk factors. Methodology:This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2017 on a convenient sample of 180 adolescent girls of 15-19 years residing in the rural field practice area of NRI Medical College, Guntur. The WHO's HEEADSSS (Home and Environment, Education and Employment, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicide & Depression and Safety) questionnaire was used to assess the psychosocial risk profile of the subjects. The findings were subjected to multiple regression and chi-square test at 5% level of significance.Results and Discussion: Only 6.11% of the girls had scores within the normal range. 10% were at severe risk and 1.11% were in the very severe risk category. The following factors accounted for 75% of the psychosocial risk: Age, Marital Status, Occupation, Positive History of Smoking or Alcohol intake in Family, Having Sleep Problems, Thoughts of inflicting self-hurt and Thoughts of inflicting physical hurt on others. Conclusion:HEEADSSS questionnaire is a useful tool to assess the psycho-social health of adolescent girls. Most girls didn't have adequate knowledge regarding family panning methods or STDs. Qualitative methods would give further insight into these issues.

Introduction: Though poorly documented, older school going children in India are also subject to malnutrition. Children in this age group especially require increased proteins and micronutrients during their growth spurt. Research on their nutritional behaviour and dietary habits is scanty. Objective: To understand knowledge regarding nutrition and dietary habits among secondary school children with the use of qualitative research methods. Materials and Methods: This study involving students of 8 th to 10 th grades in a school in Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh was done in November 2017. Focus group discussions were conducted by grade and gender. Information obtained was triangulated by key informant interviews (local paediatrician, school teacher) and literature search. The sessions were recorded and transcribed diligently. Emerging themes were identified about knowledge and behaviour. Results: The themes identified were -Knowledge about specific nutrients and balanced diet, Role of diet in preventing disease, Food preferences among school children, Misconceptions about foods, Gender differences in dietary habits, Influence of junk food, Body image and exercise. Knowledge obtained from school curriculum was limited and children were influenced more by cues from family and media. According to one ninth grader "Brown rice is healthy but not at all tasty". Another boy said "Junk food sometimes gives me a stomach upset, but it is too good to give up" Conclusion: Qualitative research gives an in-depth picture of issues which are difficult to capture. While school children have some insights into nutrition, there are lacunae. A more informative school curriculum would prevent the development of wrong attitudes in children.

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