Four hundred and twenty-five youth trainees participated for the assessment. Response rate was 98%.
3.1 Socio-Demographic Variables
Over 85% of the group were Sinhalese (n=365; 85.9%) with 51.8% (n=220) of the group consisting of males and 48.2% (n=205) being females. Age of the group ranged from 17-29 years with a mean age of 18.6 years with a standard deviation of 1.8 years.
Over 80% (n=351; 82.6%) were Buddhists 5.2% (n=22) were Christians. Only 4.7% (n=20) were Hindus and 7.5% (n=32) were Islamic Ninety six percent (n=406) were educated at school up to grade 11 or above while all had education level of grade 6 and above. Of the group only 4% (n=17) were part time employed. Among sample, only 5 (1.2%) were married. For 81.1% (n=344) mode of transport to training center was train. Out of the sample eighty (18.9%) were staying at a place apart from their own house.
Ninety one percent (n=386) of the youth in the sample were having siblings. Nearly half of the group (n=226, 55.7%) expressed that their family income per month was Rs.20000.00 or below. Over 90% (92%, n=391) were following a 6-month course. Only 7.3% (n=31) were following longer courses than 6 months (Table 1).
Table 1-Distribution of Youth Trainees by Socio-Demographic Characteristics
Variable
|
Number (n)
|
Percentage (%)
|
Nationality (n=425)
Sinhala
Tamil
Muslim
Others
|
365
26
32
2
|
85.9
6.1
7.5
0.5
|
Age in Years (n=425)
Mean
|
18.6
|
SD=1.821
|
Sex (n=425)
Female
Male
|
205
220
|
48.2
51.8
|
Religion (n=425)
Buddhist
Christion
Hindu
Islam
|
351
22
20
32
|
82.6
5.2
4.7
7.5
|
Highest Education Level (n=421)
Grade 6-10
Grade 11 and above
|
15
406
|
3.6
96.4
|
Marital Status (n=414)
Never married
Married or living together
|
409
5
|
98.8
1.2
|
Place of living (n=406)
Own home
Another place
|
344
80
|
81.1
18.9
|
Family income (n=406)
Rs.20000 and below
> Rs.20,000
|
226
180
|
55.7
44.3
|
Having siblings (n-425)
Yes
No
|
386
39
|
90.8
9.2
|
Duration of training (n=422)
6 month and below
>6months
|
391
31
|
92.7
7.3
|
3.2 Knowledge on Sexual & Reproductive Health
A greater percentage (83.4%, n=351) of the trainees knew that a new life begins by the fusion of a sperm and an ovum. Only 309 (73.7%) knew that the sperms are produced by the testicles, while 48.2% (n=203) incorrectly believed that ova are produced by the uterus. Only 41.3% (n=174) knew that testosterone is a male hormone responsible for male pubertal changes. Only 49% (n=211) knew that nocturnal emission or wet dreams are normal for a boy during this age. Eight percent (n=34) thought that nocturnal emission can make their body weak. Only 52% (n=221) knew that size of the penis in boys can vary from person to person. Nearly 48% (n=204) believed that size of the sexual organs can affect their reproductive capability (Table 2).
Table 2- Youth Trainee’s Knowledge on Sexual Changes during Puberty and the Physiology of the Reproductive Tract
Variable
|
Number (n)
|
Percentage (%)
|
The start of a new life begins with the fusion of sperm with an ovum (n=421)
True
False
Do not know
|
351
14
56
|
83.4
3.3
13.3
|
Sperm are produce in testis (N=421)
True
False
Do not know
|
309
10
102
|
73.4
2.4
24.2
|
Ova are produced by uterus (n=421)
True
False
Do not know
|
203
121
97
|
48.2
28.7
23.0
|
Testosterone is a male hormone responsible for male pubertal changes (n=421)
True
False
Do not know
|
174
23
224
|
41.3
5.5
53.2
|
It is normal for adolescent males to have nocturnal emissions (n=421)
True
False
Do not know
|
211
31
179
|
50.1
7.4
42.5
|
Size of penis and testicles can vary from one person to other(n=421)
True
False
Do not know
|
221
8
192
|
52.5
1.9
45.6
|
Size of the reproductive organ can affect a person’s reproductive capability (n=421)
True
False
Do not know
|
204
196
21
|
48
46.5
49.9
|
4.3 Trainee’s knowledge on family planning method
Only 35.5% (n=151) of the youth claimed that they have ever heard of family planning. The percentage of youth who had ever heard of condoms was 47.5% (n=202). Only 13.2% (n=56) knew about the emergency contraceptive pill. Nineteen out of thirty-three youth (57.6%) who engaged in sexual intercourse used a condom during the sexual activity (Table 3).
Table 3- Distribution of Youth Trainee by Knowledge on Family planning
Variable
|
Number (n)
|
Percentage (%)
|
Heard about Depo-Provera injections (n=421)
Yes
No
|
13
408
|
3.1
96.9
|
Heard about intrauterine device (n=421)
Yes
No
|
28
393
|
6.7
93.3
|
Heard about hormonal implant (n=421)
Yes
No
|
13
408
|
3.1
96.9
|
Heard about emergency contraceptive pills (n=421)
Yes
No
|
56
365
|
13.3
86.7
|
Condom can prevent getting sexually transmitted diseases (n=421)
Yes
No
|
51
370
|
12.1
87.9
|
4.4 Trainee’s knowledge on pregnancy, abortion and sexually transmitted disease
Out of the group only 23.3% (n=98) knew that induced abortion may lead to death while 53.9% (n=227) knew that teenage pregnancy can give rise to complications in both mother and baby.
A majority 75.5% (n=318) expressed that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by unprotected sexual intercourse. Only 47% (n=198) knew that healthy looking person may still be infected with HIV.
Nearly seventy five percent (n=318) of the youth knew that HIV/AIDs can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse. Only 114 (26.8%) correctly identified abstinence and limiting to one faithful sexual partner as a better way to prevent getting sexually transmitted infections (STI), while 12.9% (n=55) knew that by using condoms one can avoid contracting sexually transmitting disease.
Six percent (n=26) of the youth incorrectly expressed that avoiding common toilets as a method for prevent getting STI. Another nineteen percent (n=81) incorrectly said they can avoid getting STIs by not sharing face towels (Table 4).
Table 4- Distribution of Youth Trainee by Knowledge on Pregnancy, Abortion and Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infection
Variable
|
Number (n)
|
Percentage (%)
|
Induce abortion may even lead to death (n=421)
Yes
No
Do not Know
|
98
6
317
|
23.3
1.4
75.3
|
Teenage pregnancy leads to complication to baby and mother (n=421)
True
False
Do not know
|
227
16
178
|
53.9
3.8
42.3
|
HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by sexual intercourse (n=421)
True
False
Do not know
|
318
11
92
|
75.5
2.6
21.9
|
People can protect themselves from HIV/AID by using condom corrected with every sexual intercourse (n=421)
True
False
Do not know
|
148
64
209
|
35.2
15.2
49.6
|
A person can prevent getting STI by abstaining from sex (n=425)
Yes
No
|
114
311
|
26.8
73.2
|
A person can prevent from getting infected with STI by using a condom when have sex (n=425)
Yes
No
|
113
312
|
26.6
73.4
|
A person can prevent from getting infected with STI by not using common toilet (n=425)
Yes
No
|
26
399
|
6.1
93.9
|
A person can prevent from getting SIT by not sharing face towel (n=425)
Yes
No
|
81
344
|
19.1
80.9
|
4.5 Practices related to sexual and reproductive health
Out of the sample 22.8% (n=97) youth knew a friend who has experienced sexual intercourse. Among them 56.6% (n=77) had sexual intercourse with their partner, while 11.8% (n=16) were with a commercial sex worker.
Nearly 8% (n=33) of the youth claimed that they have engaged in sexual intercourse at least once in their lifetime. Out of those who have had sexual intercourse, nearly 74.2% (n=23) had had their first sexual contact at the age of 14-18 years. Many of them (59.3%%, n=48) said that they had sex with their boyfriend or girlfriend. Nearly 6.2% (n=5) had their first sexual encounter with a relative, while for 2.5% (n=2) it was with a commercial sex worker. However, 29% (n=24) said they had sex with some other person (Table 3).
Of the ones who had engaged in sexual intercourse, only 57.6% (n=19) had used condoms when having sex (Table 5). Moreover, 24.2% (n=8) claimed that they have ever used a contraceptive other than condoms during sexual contact.
Table 5- Sexual and Reproductive Health Practices among Youth Trainees
Variable
|
Number (n)
|
Percentage (%)
|
Have you ever had sexual intercourse? (n=425)
Yes
No
|
33
392
|
7.8
92.2
|
If yes, with who did you have sex? (n=33)
Girl or boy friend
Other friend
Relative
Commercial sexual worker
Other
|
48
2
5
2
24
|
59.3
2.56.2
2.5
29.6
|
Did you use condoms during the sexual activity? (n=33)
Yes
No
Have you ever used any contraceptive other than condoms, during sexual intercourse (n=33)
Yes
No
|
19
14
8
25
|
58.0
42.0
24.2
75.8
|
Associations of Sexual and reproductive health knowledge and practices
Male gender (p<0.001), being a Buddhist (P=0.027), age above 20 years (P=0.002), having a education level above grade 11 (p=0.022) were positively associated with SRH knowledge.
However, none of the demographic factors were having significant relationship with early sexual debut among adolescents in our sample (Table 6).
Table 6
Variable
|
Knowledge score >50
|
Knowledge score <50
|
Significance(p)
|
|
Number (N)
|
Percentage (%)
|
Number (N)
|
Percentage (%)
|
|
Sex
|
|
|
|
|
|
Male
|
61
|
27.7
|
159
|
72.3
|
<0.001
|
Female
|
22
|
10.7
|
183
|
89.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Age
|
|
|
|
|
|
15-20 years
|
59
|
20.8
|
225
|
79.2
|
0.002
|
Above 20 years
|
43
|
35.5
|
78
|
64.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Religion
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buddhist
|
95
|
27.1
|
256
|
72.9
|
0.027
|
Non-Buddhist
|
11
|
14.9
|
63
|
85.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Education level (n=421)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grade 6-10
|
03
|
20.0
|
12
|
80.0
|
0.022
|
Above 11
|
106
|
26.1
|
300
|
73.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|