Interdisciplinary Seminar:
Education for Health
Convener: Eliane Didier, France

Education for Health: Adolescent Health Education as an Attempt towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals
Mahanur Rahman, Bangladesh Federation of University Women

In Bangladesh, according to official statistics, adolescents are those within the age group 10-19 years. The total Bangladeshi population of 140 million includes 32.2 million adolescents, constituting 23% of the population. Among them, 7.6 million girls are 10-14 years old and 7.0 million girls 15-19 years old. Adolescents appear to be extremely ill informed about their own sexuality and physical well-being, their health, and their bodies. Moreover, what knowledge they do have is incomplete and confused. Low rates of educational attainment, limited sex education activities, and inhibited attitudes towards sex further heighten ignorance.

To obtain information on health related issues a study titled “Adolescents’ Knowledge on Reproductive Health Issues” was conducted in the urban areas of Bangladesh. It was found that only 30% of the boys and 63.7% of the girls know that nutrition causes faster body growth. 76% percent of girls are aware about menstruation, with slightly over one third having prior knowledge before its occurrence. Only 11.6% are using sanitary pads and 84.5% are using old clothes. Only 7% of the girls knew about SIDs. Of those who became mothers, 89% mentioned home delivery for the last child. 30% of the girls are knowledgeable about danger signs during pregnancy. Only 46% of all adolescents had ever heard about HIV/AIDS, but lacked specific knowledge.

It can be concluded that there exist huge gaps in knowledge of general health and reproductive health related issues among these adolescents. Work on these areas will reduce maternal and child mortality and improve health status generally.

Mahanur Rahman holds a Masters degree in Social Science from Florida State University, USA. In her retirement as Divisional Director of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, she provides voluntary social service as General Secretary to the Bangladesh Council for Child Welfare. As consultant to the Integrated Family Development Project, she has developed a model of training in social development. She is an Executive Committee Member of the Bangladesh Federation of University Women.