Effectiveness of Adolescent Family Life Education program on adolescent girls knowledge attitude and practice in a rural community of Vellore district Tamilnadu South India

Abstract

Adolescence is often described as a phase of life that begins in biology and ends in society. The word adolescence is derived from a Latin verb adolescere which means to grow into maturity. It also means to emerge . Adolescence is a formative and the most fascinating period of human life that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood and during this period, new adjustments in life situations will have to be made. Stanley Hall (1904) had characterized adolescence as a period of storm and stress . Adolescence is also described as a period of sexual development (Barber, 2004). The present study had shown that the Adolescent Family Life Education program was effective in terms of increasing the knowledge, attitude and practice of rural adolescent girls about family life and thereby promote the health of adolescent girls. Basic information on family life is important for adolescents. The findings of the study were consistent with the literature and have strong support from studies conducted throughout the world. However South Indian studies were found to be scarce in the literature especially the studies done in rural areas. AFLE may be the only place where adolescents can learn accurate information about family life and can practice the skills necessary to maintain good sexual and reproductive health with a positive attitude. newline