Knowledge of Higher Secondary School Students Regarding Reproductive Health

Adolescence is a phase of transition from childhood to adulthood during which individual undergoes enormous physical and psychological changes. Adolescent at times may be impulsive, do experimentation & face serious reproductive health risks. This study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge of higher secondary school students & to identify the sources of information regarding Reproductive Health in Solapur City. The results revealed that i) Overall knowledge of students (n=500) regarding Reproductive Health was fair. ii) Changes during adolescence were known to 77.4% students. iii) Boys had significantly poor knowledge of age of menarche compared to girls. 72.6% students noted masturbation is harmful iv) Most of the students knew about occurrence of pregnancy (93.3%), Ideal age of Motherhood (78.2%), MTP is legal (72%) & legal age of marriage (78.6%). v) 86.8% students knew at least one method of family planning. vi) 84.8% students knew that STD and AIDS can be avoided by using condom. vii) Boys, 12^th standard & Biology Reading students were found to be more knowledgeable viii) Doctor/Health worker, Mass media & Friends were main sources of information.