Gender Variation of Health Awareness of Adolescents in India

Gender Variation of Health Awargonness of Adolescents in IndiaEvaluation of gender summercater in wellness cognizance of Adolescent age convocations in cracker-barrel IndiaIntroductionWorld Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescence as the period between 10 and 19 years of age. During this period, they have to face a lot of changes which may include physical, mental, emotional or psychological changes. Yet they are the once whose wellness is neglected the most, especially that of female adolescent group. 1Health aware(p)ness not only includes the awareness for infections, diseases or dis dedicates but also wellness related topics give care physiological changes, psychological changes, hormonal changes, importance of exercise to stay fit, date for entertainment to stay active and happy etc. Adolescents in rural areas are often devoid of health care facilities and tends to fall sick more often. Both genders faces different types of problems. They even get addicted to un-heal thy activities due to lack of awareness and peer pressure. Government of India has implemented many schemes for the spread out of health awareness, but due to unknown reasons, it is not yet uniform among both 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 alship canal neglected in rural India and now as to be prioritised beca white plague not only they support family by sharing the economic burden but they also take care of the entire family. In order to share all responsibilities both males and females have to be fit and that should start from the very beginning, right after birth.With implementation of new schemes and involvement of latest engineering science like internet health awareness is improving2 The teachers also teach them the benefits of health exercise and the requirement of time for recreational activities so that they can live a happy intent.Various studies and sur vey have been conducted before but none showed the difference of health awareness between males and females of adolescent group. So we conducted this vignette to approach shot the gender variety 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 pot in one area.Material and MethodsThe present deliberate was conducted as a cross-sectional study in September, 2014 at a local school in Nhava village, Raigad District in Maharashtra State, India. A well-structured questionnaire was distributed randomly to 102 high school students which included 60 males and 42 females between 15 to 19 to evaluate gender variation in health awareness and attitude towards awareness of side personal effects of baccy consumption leading to oral or lung cancer, charge u pually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and its transmittal route, reaction on stress situations, knowledge of body mass index and ill effects of being malnourished, importance of having eat and in between meals with time for exercise and recreational activities, evaluating depression by asking mood changes. Their family type, number of members and average family income, per capita income were also found out. They were asked if they suffered from any other disorders or diseases.The required formalized permission to select and collect the relevant info from selected subjects was solicited and obtained from the Principal of the respective school. There were 13 questions and the questionnaire was collected on the spot from participants after explaining them the importance of study and obtaining their oral consent. Writing names on the form was optional and was informed that their identity 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 CriteriaAll Students between 15-19 yearsExclusion CriteriaStudents out of target i.e. preceding(prenominal) 20 years of age and below 15 yearsWho did not wanted to be a part of the surveyStatistical analysisThe 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 percentage of females and 58.82% of males. Also the ages ranged from 15-19. intimately number of the students were in 17th year.Breakfast Everyday In between meals 2-3 hours ( fudge 1)Here we noticed that only 69% Females said that they were able to have eat as compared to 81.7% Males. Values are given in Table 1. n=Number, %= percentageSexBreakfast everyday In between meals every 2-3 hoursYesnot able to have constitutionalN%N%n%F2969.01331.042 coke.0M4981.71118. 360100.0 fit7876.52423.5102100.0Table 1Time for Exercise Recreation ( Table 2)We noticed that 57.1% females here just said that they are able to do exercise and spare some 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) befool tobacco plant in any form or any other substance abuse (Table 3)It is interesting to see that only 5 males used to consume tobacco in cigarettes form which is 4.90%. Females denied winning 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 3Awareness of the side effects of taking Tobacco in any form (Table 4)Here we noticed that Females are more aware of the side effects of taking tobacco. Their awareness consecrate is 95.2% as compared to 78.3% of Mal es. The values are depicted in table 4.SexAwareness of side effects regarding tobacco Substance 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 tip (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 prone to fleshiness at this age. The mean BMI for females was 20.41SexBMI StatusNormalObeseOver WeightUnderweightTotalN%N%n%n%n%F2969.00.012.41228.642100.0M4270.011.723.31525.060100.0Total7169.610.9832.942726 .47102100.0Table 6SexStatisticStd. ErrorBMIFMean20.417341.457487895% Confidence Interval for MeanLower Bound19.493425 speeding Bound21.341256Std. diversionary attack2.9648599Minimum15.0597Maximum26.3146MMean21.016615.493396995% 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 unhappy 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.SexMood perpetually 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 separate out or Depression (Table 11)We noticed that almost half of them prefer to talk 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 friendTalk 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 female had ulcers. We also took family history which included number of family members, earning members, total family incom e per month and level of education. give-and-takeAdolescents are the future 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 lady friends in karamsad and had found out that only 8% girls were overweight while 63.2% were of normal weight and 28.5% were underweight. While 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 discover 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 risk of contacting STDs rises if proper protection not used.7 Dr. Kotecha had conducted two studies in urban and rural areas respectively, amongst school going students regarding reproductive health awareness and found out that in both rural and urban areas about terzetto of the boys and one-fourth of the girls knew about contraception. Two-thirds of boys and girls had information of HIV/AIDS, and about half of them correctly knew various modes of transmission of HIV in both urban and rural areas. legal age of the adolescent were even ready to visit the Adolescent Friendly clinic if in that location 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 superpower be due to improvement of health awareness in recent times.Tobacco ConsumptionAlong with rise in STDs prevalence and incidence there is a rise in increase of cigarette smoking among adolescent age 11 andstudents are vulnerable to tobacco addiction, especially males.12This can have bruising effect. A study conducted in state of Gujarat, India, showed that there has been increasing trend of smoking cigarettes at younger 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 harmonium 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 are at increased risk of getting stress related depression. 16They are easily influenced by changes somewhat them which affects their biological, emotional, cognitive, and social functions. Unhealthy 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 cat valium 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 tide over 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 youth to progress at a faster rate, we need them to be healthy at mind, body and free from diseases. For that, we need to incul cate health awareness in both genders and should decrease the nosepiece between the awareness.Limitation future perspectiveSample size of study was small due to limited 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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