Adolescent girls are a select high-risk group, next only to neonatal
period and early infancy. We conducted this study to study the belief,
customs, health, food habits and ambition of adolescent urban girls
between age group of 11-19 years from Various government colleges of
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, with the permission of the Principal, college
administration and the parents. A pre-tested questionnaire was issued in
batches for filling up.
Majority of the girls, 234 (96.3%) were Hindus,
socioeconomic class 81(33.33%) belonged to upper middle, the majority
belonged to lower middle 120 (49.38%) and the rest 40 (16.46%) were in the
lower social class. Majority of the girls, numbering 117 (48.14%) were
vegetarian, 109 (44.85%) were non-vegetarian and only 17(7.01%) was
vegetarian but occasionally consumed eggs. Fast food were very popular
among them. On the basis of clinical examination, 105 girls (45.7%) were
considered anemic. 153 (63.8%) were brushing their teeth twice a day and
88 (36.2%) once a day. Only 13 girls (5.5%) reported the presence of lice
in their scalp. It was interesting to note that two hundred thirty seven
girls (97.53%) used soap for washing their hands before taking food. One
hundred fifteen girls (47.32%) practiced some form of exercise.197 girls
(86.8%) knew that breast milk is ideal for newborns. The girls had poor
knowledge of their own sexuality and physical well beings. 167 girls
(68.72%) wanted to get married between 21 and 24 years of age and 60 girls
(24.69%) above the age of 24 years. Only 47 girls (19.34%) had some
knowledge of contraception. 208 girls (85.60%) were aware of the AIDS and
its transmission through sexual relationship, contaminated blood
transfusion, needle and from infected mother to infant. Most of the girls
were ignorant of sexually transmitted diseases, only a few girls knew
about syphilis and gonorrhea.
Adolescent health and nutrition are important issues
which have not received any attention though they are important in our
country, especially in the context of the girl child.