Indian J. Pediatr. 44 : 209, 1977
ATTITUDES
OF A D O L E S C E N T S C H O O L GIRLS T O W A R D REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY V.N. INGLE AND P.V. SATHE
T E A C H I N G OF
Aurangabad
There has been an increasing realization o f the necessity for imparting sex education and education of reproductive b[oIogy to adolescent children. Ahhough there is neither uniformity of opinion regarding the contents of this education nor agreement regarding who should carry out the education, m a n y feel that "parents are the best educators". (Sandell el al. 1976). There is also a feeling that "schools and colleges should acceed to the needsrof children by imparting biological, psychological and anatomical information in the course of regular scientific studies." (Sandell et al. 1976). I t is essential to gather data regarding knowledge of, and attitudes to, education of reproductive biology from schoolchildren. A preliminary study was, therefore, undertaken with this view, as a part of a study of adolescent school girls for pubertal development. Material and Method A multiple choice questionnaire in the local language was given to all school girls x~:ho had attained menarche from two high-schools, one at A u r a n g a b a d and the other at Paithan. The questionnaire was given after completion of a clinical examination. Each girl was asked to give replies on the questionnaire and put it in a *From the Departments of Paediatrics and Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical College, Aurangabad4,'11 001. **Received on July 29, 1977.
box without writing her n a m e on the paper, to ensure true replies being given without an), inhibition. The replies to various questions were analysed separately for 203 school girls at Aurangabad and 120 at Paithan, and tested for statistical sigMficance. Results The various questions asked and the replies given are presented below. Q. 1 :
H a v e you given thought as to why changes in tile breasts have taken place ? O f the school-girls tested, 221 (68~o) stated they had not; 91 that they had thought about it and 11 did not reply. There was no significant difference between responses from A u r a n g a b a d and Paithan. Q. 2 : Why has menstruation started ? T o this question 222 said it was a part of the development of the body; 66 thought it to be due to some other reason while 35 did not reply. Aurangabad and Paithan responses were similar. Q. 8 :
Did you have any information about menstruation before the onset of the menarche ? 207 (64%) replied in the negative, 105 (33%) replied in the affirmative and 11 did not reply. No difference was noticed in the Aurangabad and Paithan groups.
210
VOL. 44, No. 355
I N D I A N J O U R N A L OF P E D I A T R I C S
T a b l e 1.
Source of information regarding menstruation.
Source
Number
Mother Sister Female-teacher Doctor Male-teacher Book Other relative/friend Total
Q. 4 :
What
was
the
source
of
210 34 28 17 7 7 2
70 11 8 6 2 2 I
305
100
your
reproduction ?
information ? 37 did not reply. The source of inmation of 286 respondents is shown in Table 1. Some respondents have stated more than one source of information, hence the total of sources is more than the number of respondents. Q. 5 :
To this question 183 girls said "yes", 129 said "no", while 11 did not reply. Responses of both groups were similar. Q. 6 :
From which source will you like to have this information ? In this regard, 23 did not reply. Some of the respondents gave more than one source. The preferences given are shown in Table 2.
Are you desirous of having scientific knowledge about sex and
T a b l e 2.
~/o
Sources of scientific information about sex and reproduction preferred by school-gi,ls.
Source
Number
%
Mother Doctor Sister
187 45 29
60 15 9
Books Female teacher Friend Male teacher
28 12 7 2
9 4 2 1
Other relative Total
I 311
-100
I N G L E AND S A T H E - - A T T I T U D E S OF A D O L E S C E N T SCHOOl. GIRLS T O W A R D T E A C H I N G
0... 7 :
Will you like to have this knowledge given in your school ? To this querry, 132 showed willingness, while 180 (56%) did not desire it. 11 girls did not reply.
Discussion It may be presumed that the school girls included in this study have given repIies which reflect their opinions truly as their anonymity was ensured. The proportion of non-respondents is not very high and it was seen that a group of 11 girls have not replied to any of the questions asked. T h e study has revealed some interesting findings, which a p p e a r to be similar for school gMs resident in a divisional as well as taluq headquarters. The study shows that at least 64% of the girls had no knowledge about menstruation prior to a t t a i n m e n t of the menarche. O f those who claimed some knowledge, the chief source of of this knowledge, not surprisingly, was the mother. Regarding their attitudes toward education ot reproductive biology, only 183 out of 312 respondents i . e 59% showed willingness to have more knowledge and the three most preferred sources were mother (60%), or si~ter (9%), doctor (15%) and books (9%). Teachers have received a very low rating in this regard. It is also
~)11
seen that the school is not acceptable to 56% of girls as the place to have this knowledge. It thus becomes obvious that knowledge of reproductive biology is very poor a m o n g adolescent girls and there is a need for increasing their knowledge. This burden has to be borne mostly by the mothers and the doctors. Thus the need for educating parents is apparent.
Summary A multiple choice questionnaire was given to 323 adolescent girls from two schools, one located at the divisional and the other at the taluk headquarters, to study their knowledge of and attitudes towards the teaching of reproductive biology. The responses of the girls from both tile schools were similar. The findings indicate a willingness to have more knowledge, but the school is not acceptable to 56% of the girls, a n d the mother/sister, doctor, and books are the preferred sources of knowledge. We are thankful to the teachers of the schools for their co-operation and the Dean, Medical College, Aurangabad, for permission to publish the data.
Reference Sandell,J., Mathur, J.S. and Trivedy, B.K. (1976). Sex education and the national family planning programme. J. Farn. Welf. 13, 62.
ATTITUDES
OF A D O L E S C E N T S C H O O L GIRLS T O W A R D REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY V.N. INGLE AND P.V. SATHE
T E A C H I N G OF
Aurangabad
There has been an increasing realization o f the necessity for imparting sex education and education of reproductive b[oIogy to adolescent children. Ahhough there is neither uniformity of opinion regarding the contents of this education nor agreement regarding who should carry out the education, m a n y feel that "parents are the best educators". (Sandell el al. 1976). There is also a feeling that "schools and colleges should acceed to the needsrof children by imparting biological, psychological and anatomical information in the course of regular scientific studies." (Sandell et al. 1976). I t is essential to gather data regarding knowledge of, and attitudes to, education of reproductive biology from schoolchildren. A preliminary study was, therefore, undertaken with this view, as a part of a study of adolescent school girls for pubertal development. Material and Method A multiple choice questionnaire in the local language was given to all school girls x~:ho had attained menarche from two high-schools, one at A u r a n g a b a d and the other at Paithan. The questionnaire was given after completion of a clinical examination. Each girl was asked to give replies on the questionnaire and put it in a *From the Departments of Paediatrics and Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical College, Aurangabad4,'11 001. **Received on July 29, 1977.
box without writing her n a m e on the paper, to ensure true replies being given without an), inhibition. The replies to various questions were analysed separately for 203 school girls at Aurangabad and 120 at Paithan, and tested for statistical sigMficance. Results The various questions asked and the replies given are presented below. Q. 1 :
H a v e you given thought as to why changes in tile breasts have taken place ? O f the school-girls tested, 221 (68~o) stated they had not; 91 that they had thought about it and 11 did not reply. There was no significant difference between responses from A u r a n g a b a d and Paithan. Q. 2 : Why has menstruation started ? T o this question 222 said it was a part of the development of the body; 66 thought it to be due to some other reason while 35 did not reply. Aurangabad and Paithan responses were similar. Q. 8 :
Did you have any information about menstruation before the onset of the menarche ? 207 (64%) replied in the negative, 105 (33%) replied in the affirmative and 11 did not reply. No difference was noticed in the Aurangabad and Paithan groups.
210
VOL. 44, No. 355
I N D I A N J O U R N A L OF P E D I A T R I C S
T a b l e 1.
Source of information regarding menstruation.
Source
Number
Mother Sister Female-teacher Doctor Male-teacher Book Other relative/friend Total
Q. 4 :
What
was
the
source
of
210 34 28 17 7 7 2
70 11 8 6 2 2 I
305
100
your
reproduction ?
information ? 37 did not reply. The source of inmation of 286 respondents is shown in Table 1. Some respondents have stated more than one source of information, hence the total of sources is more than the number of respondents. Q. 5 :
To this question 183 girls said "yes", 129 said "no", while 11 did not reply. Responses of both groups were similar. Q. 6 :
From which source will you like to have this information ? In this regard, 23 did not reply. Some of the respondents gave more than one source. The preferences given are shown in Table 2.
Are you desirous of having scientific knowledge about sex and
T a b l e 2.
~/o
Sources of scientific information about sex and reproduction preferred by school-gi,ls.
Source
Number
%
Mother Doctor Sister
187 45 29
60 15 9
Books Female teacher Friend Male teacher
28 12 7 2
9 4 2 1
Other relative Total
I 311
-100
I N G L E AND S A T H E - - A T T I T U D E S OF A D O L E S C E N T SCHOOl. GIRLS T O W A R D T E A C H I N G
0... 7 :
Will you like to have this knowledge given in your school ? To this querry, 132 showed willingness, while 180 (56%) did not desire it. 11 girls did not reply.
Discussion It may be presumed that the school girls included in this study have given repIies which reflect their opinions truly as their anonymity was ensured. The proportion of non-respondents is not very high and it was seen that a group of 11 girls have not replied to any of the questions asked. T h e study has revealed some interesting findings, which a p p e a r to be similar for school gMs resident in a divisional as well as taluq headquarters. The study shows that at least 64% of the girls had no knowledge about menstruation prior to a t t a i n m e n t of the menarche. O f those who claimed some knowledge, the chief source of of this knowledge, not surprisingly, was the mother. Regarding their attitudes toward education ot reproductive biology, only 183 out of 312 respondents i . e 59% showed willingness to have more knowledge and the three most preferred sources were mother (60%), or si~ter (9%), doctor (15%) and books (9%). Teachers have received a very low rating in this regard. It is also
~)11
seen that the school is not acceptable to 56% of girls as the place to have this knowledge. It thus becomes obvious that knowledge of reproductive biology is very poor a m o n g adolescent girls and there is a need for increasing their knowledge. This burden has to be borne mostly by the mothers and the doctors. Thus the need for educating parents is apparent.
Summary A multiple choice questionnaire was given to 323 adolescent girls from two schools, one located at the divisional and the other at the taluk headquarters, to study their knowledge of and attitudes towards the teaching of reproductive biology. The responses of the girls from both tile schools were similar. The findings indicate a willingness to have more knowledge, but the school is not acceptable to 56% of the girls, a n d the mother/sister, doctor, and books are the preferred sources of knowledge. We are thankful to the teachers of the schools for their co-operation and the Dean, Medical College, Aurangabad, for permission to publish the data.
Reference Sandell,J., Mathur, J.S. and Trivedy, B.K. (1976). Sex education and the national family planning programme. J. Farn. Welf. 13, 62.
