A Psychological Study of Reproductive Health awareness and practices among Homeless Adolescent Girls in Nizamuddin, Delhi

Abstract

Background: Homeless has become a significant global and public health issue, particularly in developing countries in India. This issue makes adolescent girls susceptible to serious health issues.

Aim: The aim of this paper was to obtain the awareness and health issues of homeless adolescent girls in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi.

Methodology:  Data from interview and focus group discussion were collected using a semi-structured guide with a purposeful sample of 250 adolescent female youth ages 10-19 years. The data was coded and evaluated using qualitative techniques.

Results: The results show that adolescent girls in Nizamuddin, Delhi are not fully aware about the reproductive health and neither have they followed a hygiene practice to deal with their menstruation. The conversations in the focus groups further confirmed that the taboos and beliefs are being passed down from generation to generation, notably by mothers and older women.

Practical Implication: the results as a starting point, recommendations can be made to raise their level of health literacy and encourage them to seek help when they need it, particularly for reproductive health difficulties. A comparative study on similar topic can be done between adolescent girls from homeless and girls who belong to weaker section but have their own family and home.