Sexual and Reproductive Health(SRH) is a crucial issue of concern around the world because of its highest importance in our life. Bangladesh is one of the countries where SRH issues are of great emphasis. Although many initiatives have been/ are being taken by the government to address the issues of female sexual and reproductive health, but no conspicuous initiatives or programmes or interventions have been especially taken to address the issues regarding sexual and reproductive health of the male adolescent male.
Sexuality, sexual and reproductive health issues are considered to be the restricted adult issues. Besides discussion on those issues are tabooed in our society. So these issues are discussed within the adult groups who never permit adolescent male entrance. The isolated issues regarding SRH are neither shared with nor discussed before the male adolescent. For it's a historical trend of our society that these sexual health issues should not be discussed before the adolescent, feared that if discussed, they might go astray. So the adolescent males have no reliable platform for acquiring knowledge on these issues.
Sexual health of adolescent males is important for their healthy life ahead. A research conducted on the existing male students of the University of Dhaka shows that the level of knowledge on sexual and reproductive health in adolescent period was very poor. Interviewed, many of the interviewees indicated that they had no reliable sources of or platform for gaining knowledge or information on sexual health and practices during their adolescent. Many reported that they had no knowledge on sex, sexuality, sexual health, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases/infections. So it is a matter of serious concern that they had no proper information in the crucial period of their life. Moreover many of these interviewees shared, had sexual intercourse without any proper knowledge and information on contraception that could lead to STDs/STIs.
According to a report, of UNAIDS, published in 2018, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS has increased significantly in Bangladesh. More than 13 thousand people of all ages are living with HIV/AIDS. Among the figure, 8,500 people are 15+ male individuals whereas female number is 4,400; and young individuals (15-24) are nearly 1000. The figure is not so alarming at this moment but it may increase over the next decades if necessary interventions are not taken properly.
Proper knowledge on these SRH issues can make them aware of their sexual health and wrong doings because there is a huge gap of knowledge and information among the male adolescents. The adolescent boys get no reliable space for discussing these issues to validate their knowledge and information on sexual and reproductive health. Furthermore, differences of knowledge gap on SRH issues are evident in urban and rural male youth. Urban males are seen to be more aware than rural ones to some extent.
There are unmet needs of sexual knowledge and information as well as services. Unmet needs of sexual and reproductive health perpetuate the misconception existed among the youth. As a result, the adolescents become misguided with the misinformation that may seriously lead to health hazard. In addition, male awareness on pregnancy can reduce the number of unwanted adolescent girl pregnancy.
So the government and other stakeholders must expand their dimension of research so that male reproductive health needs can be addressed because these will make those individuals aware of themselves. World health Organization(WHO) emphasizes that the empowerment of males should be done through targeted provision of information and services aiming the adolescent youth and adult within home, community and workplaces.
Some recommendations can be considered in a bid to disseminate these knowledge and information and to adopt associated interventions. Sex education must be given proper attention. The issues regarding male sexual and reproductive health should be included in the textbook to disseminate the knowledge among the adolescents. The male students will be able to get proper sexual health knowledge earlier that can ensure their safet and secure sexual life.
Moreover online platform can be the best option to disseminate knowledge on these issues. In the era of technological development, mobile phone has become the indispensable device for our communication and sources of knowledge and information. So online platform is the best one to target because male adolescent of the present time spend much of their time on surfing facebook and browsing online websites for acquiring knowledge and information.
Sexuality, sexual and reproductive health issues are considered to be the restricted adult issues. Besides discussion on those issues are tabooed in our society. So these issues are discussed within the adult groups who never permit adolescent male entrance. The isolated issues regarding SRH are neither shared with nor discussed before the male adolescent. For it's a historical trend of our society that these sexual health issues should not be discussed before the adolescent, feared that if discussed, they might go astray. So the adolescent males have no reliable platform for acquiring knowledge on these issues.
Sexual health of adolescent males is important for their healthy life ahead. A research conducted on the existing male students of the University of Dhaka shows that the level of knowledge on sexual and reproductive health in adolescent period was very poor. Interviewed, many of the interviewees indicated that they had no reliable sources of or platform for gaining knowledge or information on sexual health and practices during their adolescent. Many reported that they had no knowledge on sex, sexuality, sexual health, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases/infections. So it is a matter of serious concern that they had no proper information in the crucial period of their life. Moreover many of these interviewees shared, had sexual intercourse without any proper knowledge and information on contraception that could lead to STDs/STIs.
According to a report, of UNAIDS, published in 2018, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS has increased significantly in Bangladesh. More than 13 thousand people of all ages are living with HIV/AIDS. Among the figure, 8,500 people are 15+ male individuals whereas female number is 4,400; and young individuals (15-24) are nearly 1000. The figure is not so alarming at this moment but it may increase over the next decades if necessary interventions are not taken properly.
Proper knowledge on these SRH issues can make them aware of their sexual health and wrong doings because there is a huge gap of knowledge and information among the male adolescents. The adolescent boys get no reliable space for discussing these issues to validate their knowledge and information on sexual and reproductive health. Furthermore, differences of knowledge gap on SRH issues are evident in urban and rural male youth. Urban males are seen to be more aware than rural ones to some extent.
There are unmet needs of sexual knowledge and information as well as services. Unmet needs of sexual and reproductive health perpetuate the misconception existed among the youth. As a result, the adolescents become misguided with the misinformation that may seriously lead to health hazard. In addition, male awareness on pregnancy can reduce the number of unwanted adolescent girl pregnancy.
So the government and other stakeholders must expand their dimension of research so that male reproductive health needs can be addressed because these will make those individuals aware of themselves. World health Organization(WHO) emphasizes that the empowerment of males should be done through targeted provision of information and services aiming the adolescent youth and adult within home, community and workplaces.
Some recommendations can be considered in a bid to disseminate these knowledge and information and to adopt associated interventions. Sex education must be given proper attention. The issues regarding male sexual and reproductive health should be included in the textbook to disseminate the knowledge among the adolescents. The male students will be able to get proper sexual health knowledge earlier that can ensure their safet and secure sexual life.
Moreover online platform can be the best option to disseminate knowledge on these issues. In the era of technological development, mobile phone has become the indispensable device for our communication and sources of knowledge and information. So online platform is the best one to target because male adolescent of the present time spend much of their time on surfing facebook and browsing online websites for acquiring knowledge and information.
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