Ramification of Adolescent Sexuality Prevailing Attitude and Causal Factors in Unwed Pregnancy

Abstract

This study reports on the pattern of sexual behaviour among adolescents in Tamil Nadu. The data from in-depth interviews give evidence to the sexual practices of adolescents. This study is concerned about the behaviour and attitude of the unmarried adolescent girls who become pregnant before marriage in all strata of society. This study will show as to what the parents should do and how should they conduct their girls who have reached puberty. These aspects may pave way to provide guidelines to formulate policies and programmes for adolescents focused on sexual health. This study was a cross-sectional study designed to examine and describe the sexual practices of adolescent girls residing in and around Chennai. A total of 358 unmarried adolescent girls who came for termination of pregnancy and 100 parents who accompanied the girls were interviewed by using structured interview schedules. The study was conducted in two settings, Government hospital and private hospital. The researcher questioned about the factors related to family relationship, social relationship, mass media, knowledge on Female Reproductive system, Perception on puberty and knowledge on Family Welfare methods. The attitudes of the adolescents towards sexuality are also analyzed. The study was conducted from April 2003 to May 2004. 228 The findings of the study on the general characteristics of the adolescent girls showed that about 44% were of 17 years or below, and nearly 56% were more than 18 years of age. Significantly higher number of (299) girls was literates. Twenty one percent of the girls were not working and out of the remaining girls, nearly 18% of them working in export companies. Others were working in the areas like housemaids, clerical jobs, labourers in the building construction, medical profession etc. Cluster analysis carried out using the opinion of the respondents indicated the existence of three different groups of girls. Thus the present study has proved significant association in all the factors with the sexual practices of adolescents.