KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AMONG RURAL ADOLESCENT FEMALES: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON CHINGUSPUR VILLAGE, BOGURA SADAR, UPAZILLA OF BANGLADESH

ABSTRACT: Adolescent’s reproductive health is a serious concernin Bangladesh. The present study was based on primarydata of 150 rural adolescent females of Chinguspur village, Bogura Sadar, Upazilla of Bangladesh. Objectives of the study was to assess the socio-demographic features of sample rural  adolescent females and to explore the level of knowledge and awareness to demonstrate the role of the information and education (media, counseling, services facilities) in the management of reproductive health issues. The mean age of the respondents was 16.2 years. The religion  of the surveyed  population were found 92% Muslim while 8% Hindu. A large number of rural adolescent females have been found to discontinue education after  a few years of schooling. Only 14% girls are currently enrolling and reading in class nine or more. Most of the girls (36.33%) in the study population  used pieces of old cloths/rags (nekra) as pads during menstruation, while some did not use anything. 39% of the rural adolescent females used rags  that were wet or had not been dried in a hygienic fashion. Among all most of them were not known or received any information about the management of  menstruation before their first menstruation. The study revealed that 72.41% of adolescents were suffering at least one complication or problems of menstruation, were not visitedor seeking  any consultation or treatment  from any serviceproviders  available. Only 27.59% taken  consultation from the service providers. While 41.66% go to traditional or herbal practitioners (locally called Kobiraj) but 33.33%visited to  qualified doctors. The study indicated that the rural adolescent femalesof the study area poorly informed about most of the reproductive  health issues. They have misconceptions regarding healthy management of menstruation and a big gap between their knowledge, attitude and practice.

Keywords: Knowledge, attitude, reproductive healthcare, adolescent, puberty