Knowledge of Contraception and HIV/AIDS among Young People in India: A Comparison of Married and Unmarried Women

The reproductive choices made by young women and men have an enormous impact on their health, schooling and employment prospects, as well as their overall transition to adulthood. The knowledge of temporary methods of contraception is fundamental to the ability of married and unmarried women (including youths) to make informed choices about reproductive health decisions. Knowledge of contraception and HIV/AIDS is examined for unmarried women with family life education and married women with health sector interaction. Knowledge of different methods of contraception is better among married adolescent in comparison to unmarried women except for emergency contraceptive pills. Unmarried women discussed contraception with friends followed by brother and sister and one-fifth of them also discussed with parents. However, only seven percent and fourteen percent unmarried women ever discussed with health provider/sex education expert and teacher respectively. Neither family life education, nor formal education was related to reproductive knowledge (conception), which was poor among the unmarried adolescents. Awareness about HIV/AIDS is better among unmarried women in comparison to married women in the age group 15-24. Understanding of sexual issues among young people is inadequate and current format of family life education may be ineffe