Knowledge Of And Attitude Towards Reproductive Health Among Female Adolescence (Aged 15-19 Years): A Study Of Lower Hunza

Abstract

The reproductive health of adolescents is of growing concern all over the world. At the global level, many young people get involved in sexual activities and risk sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV or involvement in unintended pregnancy. Young people every where reach puberty earlier and marry later than in the past. As a result, youth are sexually mature for a longer period of time prior marriage. Adolescent pregnancy and childbearing is a major concern and is associated with a range of outcomes detrimental to teen’s health, including complications of pregnancy, illegal and unsafe abortions and death, especially in less developed nations. Fifteen million women age 15-19, give birth every year, 13 million belonging to less developed countries. Over all, 33 percent women from less developed countries give birth before the age of 20 -varying from 8 percent in East Asia to 55 percent in West Africa- (UNFPA; 2000). Adolescent girls in many South Asian settings are unlikely to have much exposure or physical access to outside world. Few services cater to their needs for health care, nutrition, vocational skills, economic opportunities or information. Sizeable proportions of women in south Asia marry well before 18, and early pregnancy further exacerbates their poor reproductive health. This paper examines the knowledge and attitude of female adolescence aged 15-19 years about their reproductive health in Lower Hunza, Northern Areas of Pakistan. First part of this paper comprises introduction of adolescence and reproductive health, its worldwide and Pakistani situation. The second part of the paper consists of hypotheses and key concepts of the study and the third comprises methodology and statistical analysis of the hypotheses. The last section consists of conclusions and recommendation for the improvement of knowledge and awareness programmes for female adolescents as they are more vulnerable than male.