Study on High Risk Behaviour among Adolescents Male and Females of Agra Urban Slums

ABSTRACT

Background: India estimates third highest number of HIVinfections in the world Adolescents often face significant barrierto getting the information education and services they need.Since discussing reproductive and sexual matter freely is still ataboo in our society. Most of the literature reports that majorityof married or unmarried people had experienced their first sexencounter before age 20. The most of the countries developedor developing especially those with high prevalence ofHIV/AIDS. The intervention in India are directed more towardshigh risk groups rather than adolescents, there has been anincrease in efforts to raise awareness on issues of HIV/AIDSand to influence preventive behaviour particularly regardingsexual activity in vulnerable age group.Methods: The study was performed among adolescents of 13-19years age group residing in randomly selected urban slumsof Agra city. Personal in-depth interview of adolescent’s boysand girls was conducted using a structured questionnaire.Results: Gutkha chewing habit appeared as an futuristicepidemic as 15.0% of adolescents Gutkha chewer, out ofwhich 84.44% were males, the majority of the adolescents71.67% had never seen pornographic films. The 88% ofadolescents said that they believe in religious customs andtaboos, out of which majority 51.89% were males. The sex withunknown status partner majority of adolescents 52% male saidto have sex only with use of condom, 43.33% expressed “nosex relation.Conclusions: The reproductive health education should be apart of curriculum in all schools. Public awareness programmeshould be directed to society. Apart from government sectors,the AIDS education should be programme activity of the localhealth agencies, NGO’s, media agencies.