Reproductive Health and Adolescence

Table of Contents

What is Good Health?

Health is described as free from all diseases and infections, both physically and mentally. Health is an energetic condition, which results from a body’s constant modification and the ability to adapt in response to stress and changes in the environment.

Being healthy is necessary for an individual at any age, especially during adolescence. For this, a person needs to be not just free from diseases, but he/she should be physically as well as mentally fit and healthy. A hygienic life is a door to a healthy body and mind. Let’s discuss reproductive health and why it is necessary to be hygienic during adolescence.

What is Reproductive Health and Adolescence?

Reproductive health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the total well-being in all aspects of reproduction, i.e., behavioural, emotional, physical, and social. For a healthy society or population, it is necessary to maintain reproductive health. Adolescence is the stage of growth and sexual maturity. Thus, it is essential to practice good hygiene habits at this stage itself. For being healthy, one has to keep hygiene at a personal level (personal hygiene) as well as at the community level (social hygiene).
Reproductive Health
Below are the different ways to maintain reproductive health during adolescence:

  • Balanced Diet

A balanced diet is important for all age groups. Adolescents must have a well-balanced diet as growth depends on dietary intake. A well-balanced diet comprises all types of nutrients like proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in an adequate amount. Fruits, rice, roti, green vegetables, meat, milk, eggs, etc., are certain food with high nutritional values. However, nowadays, fast food, junk foods, and other bakery products have gained enormous popularity among adolescents. The daily consumption of fast food has invited many diseases, including obesity, and vitamin deficiency diseases, and also affects reproductive health both physically and emotionally.

  • Personal Hygiene

Personal level hygiene includes cleanliness, physical exercise, proper rest, sleep, etc. Since adolescence is the onset of puberty, many pubertal changes take place in us. Sweat glands are more active during this stage, which causes more sweating. In addition to this, the hair growth in pubic regions and armpit makes it even worse. Hence, maintaining cleanliness by proper hand washing, regular bathing, washing, and ironing of clothes has to be followed. Girls need to keep themselves clean, especially during menstruation. Regular walks, outdoor games, and workouts help adolescents remain physically fit and healthy.

  • Adolescent Pregnancy

As per the Marriage Act, the permitted age for the girl is 18 years and for the boy is 21. Early marriage before 18 years is not allowed as the girl is too young and not well-matured and is not prepared mentally or physically for motherhood, which can result in mental agony and other health problems both in the mother and the child.

  • No to Drugs

As we know, during puberty, the hormonal fluctuations level will be high, which has a great impact on our intellectual and emotional maturity, sometimes leading to poor decision-making. During this period, adolescents become more vulnerable to bad habits like drinking, smoking, taking drugs, etc. Once they get addicted to these habits, it becomes very difficult for them to recover easily. These drugs also affect their reproductive health, causing delayed puberty and both physical and social consequences.

To know more about reproductive health, visit BYJU’S.

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