Whether Educational Poverty (Deprivation of Schooling) Affects the Adolescent Girls’ Vulnerability to Reproductive and Sexual Health Concerns?

R. S. Goyal, Himgiri Zee University

This paper analyses whether schooling reduces vulnerability of adolescent girls to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns in India. It also examines whether health education interventions undertaken in community setting helps in reducing this vulnerability. The baseline survey shows that the premarital sex relationship was no longer a taboo among Indian adolescent girls. Peer pressure (for free mixing between the sexes) has emerged as most significant influencing factors in this respect. There is evidence that school going and those endowed with parental love, affection and faith are inclined to have premarital sex relationships. A case-control design was used to assess the impact of health education interventions carried out for a period of one year. It shows a significant improvement in understanding of SRH matters, gender sensitivity and, use of condom among sexually active adolescents. Schooling status of girls did impact the learning outcomes of interventions