Perception of adolescents towards reproductive health

<p>Increased self-understanding identity exploration physical and emotional</p><p>changes development of intimate relationships outside home increased dependency on</p><p>friends dilemmas arguments with parents are all hallmarks of adolescent development.</p><p>Awareness of ones sexual development romantic relations with the member of opposite</p><p>sex curiosity and experimentation along with inadequate information and the preference</p><p>for unreliable sources of information on puberty and sex can pose a serious threat to the</p><p>physical emotional and social well being of adolescents. With adults admitting their</p><p>embarrassment and unpreparedness to handle the growing sexual interests of their</p><p>adolescent child and with the ever increasing number of adolescents who indulge in risk</p><p>taking behaviours like pre-marital and unprotected intercourse the need to know and</p><p>understand adolescents and to inculcate a sense of responsibility in them is of utmost</p><p>importance. For this it becomes even more important to know the meaning of</p><p>reproductive health and sexuality and also to know the meaning of the aforementioned</p><p>concepts as understood by adolescents. This would in turn help to explore and know</p><p>what adolescents perceive of reproductive health sexuality and related issues. These</p><p>concepts and the issues related to adolescent sexuality and risk taking and the spheres of</p><p>influence that affect and shape adolescent sexuality as discussed in the following pages</p><p>form the bases of the present research.</p>