Abstract :
Background: About 23% of India’s population is in the adolescent age group of 10–19 years. 25% of patients
attending government STI clinics are younger than 18 years. Over 50% of all new HIV cases in India are
among 10–24 years. Many adolescent boys and girls are sexually active but lack information and skills for
self-protection. That is why we need to focus on adolescents.
Objectives: To assess the knowledge of adolescent boys regarding development of secondary sexual
characters, sequence of development secondary sexual characters, sexually transmitted diseases and
methods of population control.
Methodology: The 15–19 year-old study subjects were selected from Sunder Nagri (an urban slum). 384
samples were selected from the study population. Systematic random sampling method was used. Data
was collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using frequency, percentages, and
inferential statistics. Association between knowledge and demographic variables was found out using
Chi-Square test.
Results: Majority of the participants had either no knowledge (36%) or partial knowledge (45%) regarding
the development of sexual characters and only 4% had excellent knowledge and 15% had good knowledge:
No knowledge (51%) about the sequence of development of secondary sexual characters. Only 1% was able
to tell about testicular increment in size and pubic hair. Majority of them had partial knowledge regarding
names, modes of transmission and prevention of STDs/AIDS; partial knowledge (85%) regarding the
methods of population control. There was significant association between knowledge and literacy status
of participant, age, and literacy status of father. There was no significant association between knowledge
and socio-economic status and religion.
Keyword :
Knowledge, Secondary sexual characters, Adolescents