A comparative study to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding sexual health among urban and rural adolescents of selected higher secondary schools in Vadodara

Background: Sexuality is an integral part of human life. It carries the awesome potential to create new life. It can foster intimacy and bonding as well as shared pleasure in our relationships. It fulfils a number of personal and social needs, and we value the sexual part of our being for the pleasures and benefits it affords us. Yet when exercised irresponsibly it can also have negative aspects such as sexually transmitted diseases--including HIV/AIDS--unintended pregnancy, and coercive or violent behavior. Methods and Materials: Comparative descriptive research design including 200 adolescent higher secondary students of rural and urban schools in Vadodara were selected as samples using purposive sampling technique and data was collected by self-structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the knowledge and likert scale to assess attitude was administered. Results: The collected data were tabulated and analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Among socio demographic variables, gender and religion found non-significant and type of family, sources of health information and family composition were found significant. Hence there is no-significant association between knowledge and selected socio-demographic variables H1 is rejected. Conclusion: According to the study 95% had average knowledge & 5% had inadequate knowledge and no one had adequate knowledge regarding sexual health and 48.33% had positive attitude and 51.67% have negative attitude regarding sexual health. There was significant difference in knowledge and attitude score regarding sexual health among urban and rural adolescents.