Risky Reproductive Health Behavior and Information Access on Adolescents: Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

Abstract

Adolescence is a vital period of development marked by confusion, a range of emotions, and an understanding of adult behavior, the environment, enthusiasm, and an inclination to explore, particularly with drugs, alcohol, and sex. This study outlines adolescents' knowledge, attitude, access to information and risky behaviors related to reproductive health. This study employed a concurrent triangulation design, using mixed methodologies. The chi-square test was used to examine this form of quantitative study. The focus groups and in-depth interviews with teenagers in several agencies, along with the accompanying teachers and parents, provided qualitative information for this study. Adolescents had greater access to knowledge about reproductive health issues, but the majority were unable to make effective use of this information. Numerous risky habits, including drug use, also set off unsafe sexual behaviors. In contrast to their parents or professors, teenagers increasingly feel more at the ease of sharing stories with their friends. It is intended that parents and educators will act in a peer-like manner by imitating teenagers’ social cues. Quantitative analysis revealed relationships among information access, attitude, knowledge, and reproductive behavior. Teenagers typically have higher knowledge of their reproductive health. However, the majority of them struggle to put this knowledge into practice, and as a result, many engage in risky sexual behavior out of curiosity.