Sexuality amongst adolescents in present era: An observational cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction:  Every individual goes through the storm and stress of intense physical and mental changes during adolescence. Awareness and knowledge about sexuality and sex during this crucial phase decides the pattern and style of their life. Gen Z has been raised in era of internet revolution. In the absence of nationwide comprehensive sexual education curriculum in schools, digitalization opens up numerous platforms of learning regarding the sexuality.
Objectives:  To determine the knowledge among rural and urban adolescents regarding sexuality, safe sex and their source of information. 
Materials and Methods:  An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 co-educational rural and urban schools each of Sitapur district on 553 students aged 12-18 years of either sex. A self-report questionnaire was administered to test their knowledge and perception regarding sex and sexuality and source of information. Data was analysed using Epi Info7. Categorical variables were expressed as number and percentage.
 Results: In present study rural adolescent has lesser number of opposite sex friends than urban counterpart. They have more physical groups while urban adolescents have more online groups. The preferred mode of interaction among urban adolescents is digital media. Lesser number of rural adolescents have knowledge about methods of safe sex, route of transmission and prevention of HIV. Major source of information was digital platform among urban adolescents.
Conclusion:  There is knowledge gap among adolescents from rural area in present study due to social barriers and less access to internet. Thus, in this present era emphasis should be on proper sex education through different digital platforms which can play a pivotal role in delivering the facts about sexuality and appropriate grooming of adolescents.