Sexual behaviour and practices among adolescents and young people: study and results from a tertiary care centre of north India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20211997Keywords:
Sexual behavior, Practices, Adolescents, Young adultsAbstract
Background: Adolescence and young age is a time of opportunity and risk. During this time, attitudes, values and behaviours that forms a young person's future begin to develop and take shape. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 70% of health related issues in adults are largely due to behaviours initiated during adolescence. Age of sexual debut is generally low, yet there is dearth of knowledge on sexuality.
Methods: This prospective study was conducted on adolescents and young people visiting the dermatology out patient department of a tertiary care centre in north India over 6 months duration with the help of a self administered questionnaire regarding sexual health and practices followed by imparting knowledge regarding safe sexual practices by the author.
Results: Sexual debut is usually with an elder as noted in the study. Youngsters engage in unhealthy sexual behaviours, characterized by early age at sexual initiation, unsafe sex and multiple sex partners, Reasons given for this include curiosity, peer influence, pleasure and financial benefit, amongst others.
Conclusions: Similar patterns of sexual behavior have been seen in all parts of the world, the findings being similar in developed as well as developing nations. Despite the ongoing programs and initiatives taken by the Indian government, this article points to the need of increasing sexual awareness by incorporating sexual education as a part of the early education curriculum, by helping and including parents to overcome the social and cultural barrier between them and their children. Encouraging contraceptive use and hence improving adolescent and young people’s reproductive and sexual health in the country.
Metrics
References
World Health Organization. Adolescent health and development. http://www.searo.who.int/en/section13/section1245_4980.htm. Accessed on 12th January 2021.
Okonta PI. Adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria – issues and challenges. African J Reproduct Health. 2007;11(1):113-24.
Okpani AOU, Okpani JU. Sexual activity and contraceptive use among female adolescents – a report from Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Afr J Reproduct Health. 2000;4(1):40-7.
Daneback K, Månsson SA, Ross MW. Technological advancements and Internet sexuality: does private access to the Internet influence online sexual behavior?. Cyberpsychol Behavior Social Networking. 2012;15(8):386-90.
Tanner JM, Marshall WA. Variations in the pattern of pubertal changes in boys. Arch Dis Child. 1970;45(239):13-23.
Blakemore SJ, Mills KL. Is adolescence a sensitive period for sociocultural processing?. Annual review of psychology. 2014;65:187-207.
Baams L, Dubas JS, Overbeek G, Van Aken MA. Transitions in body and behavior: A meta-analytic study on the relationship between pubertal development and adolescent sexual behavior. J Adolescent Health. 2015;56(6):586-98.
Muñoz MA, Nitschke RG, Tholl AD. Sexual behavior in the everyday life of adolescents and young adults from the hip hop culture. Texto & Contexto-Enfermagem. 2014;23(1):126-33.
Girma S, Paton D. Is education the best contraception: the case of teenage pregnancy in England?. Social Sci Med. 2015;131:1-9.
Holland J, Ramazanoglu C, Scott S, Sharpe S, Thomson R. Between embarrassment and trust: young women and the diversity of condom use. AIDS: Responses, Interventions Care. 1991;127:148.
Lear D. You're Gonna be Naked Anyway: College Students Negotiating Safer Sex. Qualitative Health Research. 1996;6(1):112-34.
Hillier L, Dempsey D, Harrison L. 'I'd never share a needle'…[but I often have unsafe sex]: Considering the paradox of young people's sex and drugs talk. Culture, health & sexuality. 1999;1(4):347-61.
Duru CB, Ubajaka C, Nnebue CC, Ifeadike CO, Okoro OP. Sexual behaviour and practices among secondary school adolescents in Anambra State, Nigeria. Afrimedic Journal. 2010;1(2):22-7.
Pringle J, Mills KL, McAteer J, Jepson R, Hogg E, Anand N, Blakemore SJ. The physiology of adolescent sexual behaviour: A systematic review. Cogent Social Sci. 2017;3(1):1368858.
White HR, Fleming CB, Catalano RF, Bailey JA. Prospective associations among alcohol use-related sexual enhancement expectancies, sex after alcohol use, and casual sex. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. 2009;23(4):702.
Sarojini NB, Srinivasan S, Madhavi Y, Srinivasan S, Shenoi A. The HPV vaccine: science, ethics and regulation. Econ Pol Wkly. 2010;45(27):27-34.
Kail RV, Cavanaugh JC. Human development: A life-span view. Cengage Learning. 2018.
