Gender Variation of Health Awareness of Adolescents in India

Gender Variation of Health Aw beness of c onlyows in IndiaEvaluation of sexual practice variation in wellness knowingness of Adolescent era groups in verdant IndiaIntroductionWorld Health pre aspectncy (WHO) defines adolescence as the period between 10 and 19 years of period. During this period, they obtain to face a lot of changes which may include physical, mental, emotional or psychological changes. Yet they ar the once whose wellness is neglected the most, oddly that of female boyish group. 1Health sensory faculty not only includes the sensory faculty for infections, diseases or disorders but also health related topics like physiological changes, psychological changes, hormonal changes, importance of turn to stay fit, time for pastime to stay active and sate etc. Adolescents in folksy areas are often devoid of health care facilities and bes to fall sick to a greater extent often. Both genders faces different types of problems. They even get addicted to un- respectable activities due to insufficiency of knowingness and peer pressure. Government of India has carry bulge extincted umpteen schemes for the spread of health cognizance, but due to unknown reasons, it is not yet uni course of action among two the genders.If they are aware of health issues surrounding them, they can fight or prevent them and can improve their lives. Females health has been always neglected in rural India and now as to be prioritised beca engagement not only they bind family by sharing the economic burden but they also suck in care of the entire family. In order to share all responsibilities two males and females buzz moody to be fit and that should take in from the very beginning, right later birth.With implementation of new schemes and involvement of latest technology like profit health awareness is improving2 The teachers also teach them the benefits of health exercise and the exigency of time for deflectional activities so that they can live a happy lifetime.Various studies and survey have been conducted before but none showed the difference of health awareness between males and females of childish group. So we conducted this get to get at the gender variation in health awareness in adolescent age group 15-19 years.Their answers to the questionnaire can help us to understand the awareness of health in rural areas and we could bring further changes or implement new plans for spreading health awareness especially if one of the gender is lacking behind in one area.Material and MethodsThe present theme was conducted as a cross-sectional report in September, 2014 at a local school in Nhava v blowage, Raigad District in Maharashtra State, India. A well-structured questionnaire was distributed haphazardly to 102 high school students which include 60 males and 42 females between 15 to 19 to evaluate gender variation in health awareness and attitude towards awareness of side effect of tobacco plant consumption princi pal to oral or lung genus Cancer, elicitually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and its transmission track, reaction on try on situations, knowledge of bole mass index and under the weather effects of being malnourished, importance of having breakfast and in between meals with time for exercise and cheeral activities, evaluating depression by asking mood changes. Their family type, number of members and reasonable family income, per capita income were also plant unwrap. They were asked if they suffered from whatsoever opposite disorders or diseases.The required functionary permission to select and collect the relevant data from selected subjects was solicited and obtained from the Principal of the several(prenominal) school. There were 13 questions and the questionnaire was collected on the spot from single outicipants after explaining them the importance of study and obtaining their oral consent. Writing names on the realize was optional and was informed that their identit y will be kept hidden in all ways possible if they chose to write their names. The survey was carried out in their school timings and free periods.Inclusion Criteria solely Students between 15-19 years elimination CriteriaStudents out of target i.e. above 20 years of age and to a lower place 15 yearsWho did not wanted to be a part of the surveyStatistical depth psychologyThe data were entered into the computer (Microsoft Office, Excel) and were subjected to statistical analysis using the statistical package SPSS version 19.ResultsIn the present study, we got 102 samples out of which 60 were males and 42 were females having 41.18 contribution of females and 58.82% of males. Also the ages ranged from 15-19. Most number of the students were in 17th year.Breakfast Everyday In between meals 2-3 hours ( give in 1) here we detect that only 69% Females utter that they were able to have breakfast as compared to 81.7% Males. Values are given in Table 1. n=Number, %= percentage kindleBreak fast everyday In between meals every 2-3 hoursYesnot able to have descendN%N%n%F2969.01331.042100.0M4981.71118.360100.0Total7876.52423.5102100.0Table 1Time for suffice Recreation ( Table 2)We noticed that 57.1% females here just said that they are able to do exercise and spare close to time for recreation as compared to 80% approval from the males regarding the same.SexTime for exercise and recreationYesNoTotalN%n%n%F2457.11842.942100.0M4880.01220.060100.0Total7270.63029.4102100.0(Table 2)Consume Tobacco in any form or any other plaza abuse (Table 3)It is interesting to escort that only 5 males used to consume tobacco in cigarettes form which is 4.90%. Females denied pickings any tobacco in any form. The values are depicted in table 3SexConsume tobacco in any form or any other substance abuseYesNoTotalN%n%n%F0.042100.042100.0M58.35591.760100.0Total54.909785.10102100.0Table 3 ken of the side effects of taking Tobacco in any form (Table 4)Here we noticed that Females are mor e(prenominal) than aware of the side effects of taking tobacco. Their awareness rate is 95.2% as compared to 78.3% of Males. The values are depicted in table 4.SexAwareness of side effects regarding tobacco ticker abuseYes (Aware)NoTotalN%n%n%F4095.224.842100.0M4778.31321.760100.0Total8785.31514.7102100.0Table 4Awareness of STDs at least one route of spread (Table 5)Mostly everyone knows about STD and its of route of spread. More details are depicted in table 5.SexAwareness of STDYesNoTotalN%n%n%F42100.00.042100.0M5898.0421.9660100.0Total10098.0421.96102100.0Table 5BMI Status Awareness to ill effects of malnourishment (Table 6-8)BMI of the study subject was calculated by using the formula weight (kg)/ height2 (m2). For grading proposed criteria of BMI for Asians (Choo V 2002) and CDC (2010) was adopted.We noticed that females tend to be more underweight as compared to males. Males being more attached to obesity at this age. The mean BMI for females was 20.41SexBMI StatusNormal orotundOver WeightUnderweightTotalN%N%n%n%n%F2969.00.012.41228.642100.0M4270.011.723.31525.060100.0Total7169.610.9832.942726.47102100.0Table 6SexStatisticStd. ErrorBMIF implicate20.417341.457487895% Confidence breakup for MeanLower Bound19.493425Upper Bound21.341256Std. Deviation2.9648599 marginal15.0597 supreme26.3146MMean21.016615.493396995% Confidence Interval for MeanLower Bound20.029330Upper Bound22.003900Std. Deviation3.8218361Minimum16.0231Maximum40.4281Table 7BMI values are depicted in Table 7We also asked them if they knew the ill-effects of being malnourished? Almost 90% males knew the ill effects. Whereas 78.6% Females knew about the ill effects. The details are in table 8.SexAware of ill-effects of being malnourished?YesNoTotalN%n%N%F3378.6921.442100M5490.0610.060100Total8785.291514.70102100Table 8Mood Study duration in a day (Table 9 10)We also asked whether they stay happy content always or suffering and grumpy or scared or always angry. Most of them answered that they stay happy always. Most also mentioned that they study for 1-2 hours daily.SexMoodAlways Happy ContentAlways unhappyAlways ScaredAlway angryTotaln%n%n%n%n%F3788.149.512.40.042100.0M5591.723.323.311.760100.0Total9290.1965.8832.941.98102100.0Table 9SexAverage hours of study per day1-2 hours2-4 hours4-6 hoursTotaln%n%n%n%F2559.5%1433.3%37.1%42100.0%M4168.3%1728.3%23.3%60100.0%Total6664.70%3130.39%54.90%102100.0%Table 10Reaction on adjudicate or Depression (Table 11)We noticed that almost half of them prefer to slop to their friends when they are depressed. Few females do cry or starve as well.SexReaction on being stressed / depressionBe alone / lock yourselfCry / StarveCall your friend blither to your eldersTotaln%n%N%n%n%F819.0716.71842.9921.442100.0%M1525.058.32846.71220.060100.0%Total2322.541211.764645.092120.58102100.0%Table 11We also asked for any other diseases or disorder which they may be suffering from. 2 of males said that they are suffering from Diabetes and 1 femal e had ulcers. We also took family history which included number of family members, earning members, total family income per month and take of education.DiscussionAdolescents are the early of the country. As they reach puberty, they face a lot of changes in many ways which includes physiological, hormonal, emotional and mental. Females tends to receive more challenges because of the physiological and hormonal changes occurring with the start of their puberty. 3 With the rise of menstrual cycle they often tend to get more depressed before getting adjusting to it. BMI Importance Awareness of malnourishmentFemales may face malnourishment due to male children being given priority to eat first 4 or may be due to body weight consciousness leading to disorders like bullaemia or Anorexia nervosa or depression. 5 Dr. Shah had conducted a study on nutrional assessment of adolescent girls in karamsad and had found out that only 8% girls were overweight while 63.2% were of normal weight and 2 8.5% were underweight. small-arm 23.4% boys were overweight and only 21.2 % were underweight.6The present study showed that 28.6% females were underweight as compared to 25% males. 2.4% females were overweight whereas we did not find any obese female during the study. 4% males were above normal stage which includes overweight and obese. Almost 90% males knew the ill effects. Whereas 78.6% Females knew about the ill effects.STD Awarness its route of transmissionIn later years of adolescent age, teenagers especially males tends to get physically attracted and intimated with the opposite sex and the adventure of contacting STDs rises if proper protection not used.7 Dr. Kotecha had conducted two studies in urban and rural areas respectively, amongst school dismission students regarding reproductive health awareness and found out that in both rural and urban areas about one-third of the boys and stern of the girls knew about contraception. Two-thirds of boys and girls had informatio n of HIV/AIDS, and about half of them correctly knew dissimilar modes of transmission of HIV in both urban and rural areas. mass of the adolescent were even ready to visit the Adolescent Friendly clinic if at that place was any in near-by areas. 8,9The awareness regarding modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS was found to be higher among boys as compared to girls which contradicts the present study. 10 The present study showed that all females knew about STDs and at least one route of spread as compared to 98.04% males. The contradiction might be due to improvement of health awareness in recent times.Tobacco ConsumptionAlong with rise in STDs prevalence and incidence there is a rise in enlarge of cigarette take in among adolescent age 11 andstudents are vulnerable to tobacco addiction, especially males.12This can have harmful effect. A study conducted in state of Gujarat, India, showed that there has been increasing trend of smoking cigarettes at junior which is a matter of great concern13. Early use of tobacco smoking may lead to many harmful effects like hypertension, lung cancer and may even lead to end stage organ in later years of life14.A study conducted by Sharma Et Al showed 18.4% males have tried cigarettes or bidis at least once in life time compared to 11% females in adolescent age group. Tobacco use was much higher among the adolescent aged 16-19 group than those in the age group of 14-15 years. Tobacco use was appreciably higher among the males (23.8%) than the females adolescent age group (14.9%), (P=0.016).The prevalence rate of current smoking is 7.1%15.The present study showed that 4.9% males has consumed tobacco in any form in a rural area which leads to a conclusion that the tobacco consumption might be at a larger scale in urban areas. All females denied taking tobacco in form. It also noticed that females are more aware of the side effects of taking tobacco. Their awareness rate was 95.2% as compared to 78.3% of Males.Also adolescents ar e at increased risk of getting stress related depression. 16They are easily influenced by changes around them which affects their biological, emotional, cognitive, and social functions. proinflammatory and anti-social behaviours are manufactured in these years but if stopped, can be moulded back or may change permanently. 17These anti-social changes are common in males as compared to femalesConclusionThere are many differences in health awareness between males and females of the adolescent age group. We need to decrease the duet between them and for that we need to change some of our health policies. In some areas females have better health awareness like awareness in STD spread and side effects of taking tobacco in any form, whereas males have better knowledge in understanding the importance of taking proper breakfast and in taking some time off for entertainment. Along with that they also know the ill effects of malnourishment. If we need our juvenility to progress at a faster rate, we need them to be healthy at mind, body and free from diseases. For that, we need to inculcate health awareness in both genders and should decrease the bridge between the awareness.Limitation future tense perspectiveSample size of study was small due to check number of students in the school. In future, we want to study on more than 500 students of multi-schools in more than 5 districts involving rural areas.ReferencesMahajan P, Sharma N. Awareness level of Adolescent Girls Regarding HIV/AIDS (A comparative study of rural and urban areas of Jammu) J Hum Ecol. 200417313-4.Gray NJ, Klein JD. 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