Adolescent Male Reproductive Health Knowledge and Practices in Bangladesh

Abstract

Opinions on reproductive health education at the onset of puberty at present were studied by using a
structured questionnaire consisting of 13 questions with a view to know their conception about it. A total of 800 male
students were randomly selected of which 400 were from two public and the rest 400 from private universities
situated in Dhaka, Bangladesh. At least half of the university students (384, 48%) did not understand much about
puberty and remained confused. A large number of adolescents felt shy (208, 26%), scared (56, 7%), least bothered
(112, 14%) and were not at all aware (40, 5%) of their onset of puberty. The respondents reported to have discussion
their pubertal changes mainly with their male peers (672, 84%) and a very little access to parents (16, 2%) and elder
brothers (16, 2%). A few respondents talked with their teachers (40, 5%). Their shared feelings were not informative
and rather incorrect for maintaining good reproductive health at a growing time. On the contrary, they were rather
warned by the persons not to disclose it to others. Most of the respondents (672, 84%) felt sex education is essential
for better reproductive health management, a few of them (88, 11%) opposed this idea and some of them remained
silent (40, 5%). Half of the respondents (760, 50%) preferred reproductive health education should be included in
secondary and higher secondary levels (375, 25%), in the university level (166, 11%) and very few wanted it to be
included in primary level (93, 6%). A few number of respondents (92, 6%) preferred non-formal reproductive health
education. Some of the respondents (785, 23%) wanted to learn through curriculum and discussion with partners on
sexual matter, reproductive organs and their functions (765, 16%), on STIs and AIDS (665, 17%) for safe sexual life.
They (580, 11%) want to know the process of pregnancy and lactation, menstruation (356, 7%) and protection from
unwanted sex (320, 6%) and other related issues (130, 2%). Most of the respondents (600, 75%) have no clear idea on
the impact of addiction on sexual activity. However, a few number of respondents (128, 16%) believed that any drug
addiction might cause decreased sexual activity while the other respondents (72, 9%) kept silent.