The Paediatric Department of GMCH Sector 32 recently conducted an Adolescent Health Survey, based on questionnaires, in around
16 schools with 2,500 teenagers.
According to Dr Shrikant Basu, a Reader at the GMCH Paediatric Department, the
reasons behind the lack of sexual awareness are the seclusion of sex education
from the main curriculum and lack of parental guidance at the right age. ''It
was shocking to know that many youth were unaware of the site of development of
the foetus and the right age of marriage,'' Dr Basu said. ''Girls are, however,
more aware of the physical changes, but still confused regarding sanitation.
There is a dire need to break the ice to ensure that teens do not get mislead
by turning to alternate sources.''
In terms of information sources, the survey rated parents as number one, then
came friends and teachers. ''It may be appreciable that around 47 per cent of
the respondents turn towards parents [for information on sex-related matters]
but it's ironic that parents don't know what to tell and how,'' Basu further
added.
A city principal said that it was difficult to impart sex education separately.
Shree Guru Harkishan School principal Harpreet Kaur said ''this knowledge'' is
imparted during lessons only. ''Students are still not mentally ready and do
not open up in front of the whole class.'' Agrees Sharma, principal of GMSSS,
Sector 35: ''Teachers sometimes are themselves unable to impart the knowledge
in the right way as it demands individual attention. The initiative has to be
taken by parents.''
Dr Basu suggests that the monthly parent-teacher meetings are the best place to
counsel adolescents. Such counselling can also be done in a combined class of
girls and boys to make individuals realise that changes are normal for both the
sexes.
The survey
further revealed that teenagers want their queries to be
dealt with seriously. For most of them the media is not
a reliable source of information and 85 per cent of them
feel the need for adolescent health-related talks to be
held preferably in classes VIII or IX.
