Attitude of Adolescents Towards Family Life Education (FLE): A Comparative Study of Jammu and Palampur

Abstract

Adolescents are growing up in the world in which they will have to make more decisions for themselves than any previous generation. They experiment more make choices and risks and learn by their own experiences rather than by those of others many are able to face change and confidence and with the vision of better life in future which they can build with their own efforts. Yet for others the result is confusion despair and risk taking of a kind which is ultimately self destructive considering the adolescent stage as a traumatic period. Early pregnancy increased pre-marital sexual activity and limited knowledge regarding reproductive health all results in increased risks of STD infections including HIV/AIDS maternal morbidity and mortality unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion thus endangering the physical and reproductive health and productivity of adolescent. As per results revealed by Registrar General of India and National Family Health Survey for 1992-1993 in India 38% girls get married at 19.5 years. In 1991 26.1% of the total fertility in India is attributed to women in the age group of 15-19 years 8% of India 26-27 million annual birth are to mothers under 19 years of age; 7.1% of currently married women in the age group 15-19 years were practicing contraception; the infant mortality rate among live births of adolescent women is about 30% higher compared to those of older women aged 20-24 years. (excerpt)