1. SITUATION
ANALYSIS OF
ADLOSCENT GIRL
B R Siwal
Deputy Director
WD Division NIPCCD
brsiwal@gmail.com

2. Adolescence
 A period between childhood and adulthood.
 There is lot of upheaval and restructuring during
adolescence both on physical and psychological level
 There is identity crisis
 Adolescent feels grown up but the parents and seniors
refuse to accept it.

3. Puberty - Physical Changes
 Primary Sexual Characteristics
 reproductive organs
 Secondary Sexual Characteristics
 non-reproductive characteristics, breasts, hair etc.

4. Sexual Maturation
 Female
 Male
 breast bud and
 testes enlarge ~ 11.5 yrs
growth spurt ~ 10 yrs
 growth spurt ~ 12.5 yrs
 menarche ~ 12.5 yrs
 spermarche ~ 13 yrs
 full height ~ 13 yrs  facial hair & voice change
~ 14 yrs
 full height ~ 15.5 yrs

6. No longer Children, Not Yet Adults
Young people
Adolescence
10-24 Years
10-19 years
Youth
15-24 Years 08/17/12 6

7. Population Profile: Ages 10-24
Years in India
Population age-10-24 (Millions) 284.2
10-24 years as % of total population 30
% Male enrolled in secondary school 59
% Female enrolled in secondary school
38
Average age at first marriage 20
Total fertility rate 3.4
% TFR contributed by 15-19 years 9
% using contraceptives 7

8. Why Focus on Adolescents?
• Large number >22% of the population
(Approximately 207 Million of our population);
• Adolescence is a period of rapid physical growth,
sexual and psycho-social changes;
• Habits and behavior picked up during adolescence
(Risk taking behavior, substance abuse, eating
habits, conflict resolution) have life long impact.

9. Why Focus on Adolescents?
• Adolescence is the last chance to correct growth
lag and malnutrition;
• Many adolescent boys and girls are sexually
active but lack information and skills for self
protection (Low level of information on FP, low
contraception use);
• Have simple, but wide pervading and crucial RH
needs – menstrual hygiene, contraception;
(including Emergency Contraception), safety
from STI/HIV;
• Communication gap exists with parents and
other adults (Lack of family “Connectedness”);

10. Characteristics
 A – Aggressive Anaemic Abortion
 D – Dynamic,Developing,Depressed
 O – Overconfident,Overindulging,Obese
 L – Loud but lonely,& Lack information
 E – Enthusiastic,Explorative,& Experimenting
 S – Social,Sexual, & Spiritual
 C – Courageous,cheerful, &concern
 E – Emotional,Eager,& Emulating
 N - Nervous,Never say no to peers
 T – Temperamental,Teenage pregnancy

11. Before Birth to 1year
 • Foeticide and Infanticide
 • Infant mortality
 • Discrimination in breast feeding and infant
food
 • Neglect of health (immunization)

12. 1 to 11 years
 • Discrimination in access to food and health care
 • Malnutrition and anemia
 • Health problems like Polio and diarrhea
 • Iodine and Vitamin A and Micro nutrient deficiency
 • Low school enrolment and School drop outs
 • Vulnerable to trafficking, child labour, child marriage
 • Abuse, exploitation and violence
 • Domestic chores
 • Looking after siblings
 • Restriction on mobility and play


13. Discrimination in overall treatment and
parental care 11 to 18 years (Adolescents)
 • Poor health
 • Low literacy level
 • Restriction on mobility and play
 • Frequent illness due to Malnutrition,
Aneamia and micro-nutrient deficiency
 • Child Marriage
 • Early Child bearing morbidity and mortality
 • Poor access to information and services
 • Early and frequent pregnancy coupled with
abortions

14.  • Marital and domestic violence
 Dowry Harassment, desertion
 • Child labour, trafficking.
 • STDs and HIV/AIDs
 • Heavy domestic work including commuting
long distances to collect fire wood/ drinking
water
 • Unpaid and unrecognized work, and
drudgery
 • No voice either in Home or society

15. SITUATION OF GIRL CHILD
- There are practices of sex selection,
foeticide and infanticide hence there is
denial of female birth and life
- There is a deep-rooted gender
discrimination against girl child

16. - Cultural beliefs and practices
permeate into every aspect of the
growing girl’s social and cultural
environment
- Girl child has biological advantage and
social disadvantage

17. - Girls are made to accept the norms of
male dominated society and considered
inferior to boy
- Denial or discrimination of opportunities

18. - Deprived of her childhood and compelled
into early marriage and child bearing
- Girls nutritional intake is inferior in
quality and quantity

19. - There is less enrolment and high drop-outs
among girls
- Girls are more susceptible to violence and crimes
– sexual abuse, child prostitution and trafficking,
rape
- Discrimination life conditions place them at
greater risk of health and over all development

20. - Girls are socialise for subjugation and
subordination
- Girls assume domestic responsibility at
early age
- Girl child in difficult situation is
disadvantaged on account of poverty,
gender and circumstances

21. GIRLS IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
 Girl child with disabilities
 Street & working girl child
 Destitutes & orphans
 Child abuse and neglect
 Child prostitutes – trafficking
 Girl child victim of violence

22.  Juvenile delinquents
 Slum and migrant children
 Parents in extreme poverty
 Children of prostitutes
 Children of women prisoners
 Children with hiv & aids
 Girl children in trauma – man made and natural dissaster
 Child mother/early marriage/forced pregnancy

23. VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS
 “Any act of gender-based violence that results
in, or is likely to results in , physical, sexual or
psychological harm or suffering to women,
including threats of such acts, coercion or
arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether
occurring in public or private life.”

24. FACTORS THAT PERPETUATE VIOLENCE
SOCIO-CULTURAL
 Gender – specific socialization
 Cultural definitions of appropriate sex roles
 Expectations of roles within relationships
 Belief on the inherent superiority of males

25.  Values that give men proprietary rights over women
and girls
 Notion of the family as the private sphere and under
male control
 Customs of marriage (bride price / dowry)
 Acceptability of violence as a means to resolve
conflict
 Portrayal of negative image in media

26. LEGAL
 Laws regarding divorce, child custody,
maintence and inheritance
 Low levels of legal literacy among women
 Lesser legal status of women either by written
law and / or by practice
 Insensitive treatment of women and girls by
police and judiciary

27. PSYCHOLOGICAL MALTREATMENT
Definition
 Psychological Neglect - the consistent failure
of a parent or caretaker to provide a child with
appropriate support, attention, and affection.
Psychological Abuse - a chronic pattern of
behaviors such as belittling, humiliating, and
ridiculing a child.

28. PHYSICAL ABUSE
Physical abuse is any non-accidental injury to a child
under the age of 18 by a parent or caretaker. These
injuries may include beatings, shaking, burns, human
bites, strangulation, or immersion in scalding water,
with resulting bruises and welts, broken bones, scars,
burns, retinal hemorrhage, or internal injuries.

29. CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE Definition
Child sexual abuse is the exploitation of a child or
adolescent for the sexual gratification of another
person.

30. SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ABUSE
 Rape
 Molestation
 Pornography
 Incest
 Exposure to Sexual Acts of others
 Sexual Assault with object
 Forcible Fondling
 Trafficking
 Juvenile Prostitution
 Sexual Harassment / Eve teasing
 Sex with minor (child marriage)

31. CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE:
 Sexually transmitted diseases.
 Vaginal or rectal injuries.
 Miscarriages, stillborn babies, premature birth.
 Low self esteem
 Depression
 Fear
 Anxiety

32. PSYCHOLOGICAL
Symptoms of depression:
 low self-esteem;
 self-containment;
 neglected appearance;
 consider suicidal options or attempts to take her
own life;

33.  anorexia of bulimia (i.e. pathological refusal
to have a meal of pathological overeating);
 taking alcohol or drugs;
 insomnia;
 psychosomatic diseases
 fits of uneasiness;
 feeling of helplessness;
 weeps frequently;

34.  indecisive behavior;
 avoids meeting eyes.
 loss of contacts with family members and
friends (sense of being isolated).
 poverty (sometimes as a result of financial
tricks of her partner).
 obsessive fear.
 alienation from her children or even hostility
towards them.

35. TRAFFICKING
 Recruitment transportation are receipt of
women and girl through deception or
coercion for the purpose of prostitution other
sexual exploitation or forced labour.

36. VULNERABILITIES TO TRAFFICKING
 Feminization of Poverty
 Poverty of parent
 Lack of employment opportunities
 Lack of unequal access to education
 Traditional community attitude
 Debt and bondage of parents
 False promises and deception
 Commercialization and agriculture
 Love of livelihood
 Gender based socialization

37.  Caste and tribal social system
 Domestic – violence
 Low level of confidence and self worth
 Death of parents
 Lack awareness and laws
 Street children with no guardians
 Single women – migrant worker
 Sudden disaster victim – cyclone, earth quakes and
floods
 Stigmatization – girls raped, adorned

38. TRENDS IN TRAFFICKING
 Growing scope and magnitude
 New source and destination
 Diverse and sophisticated mechanisms
 Highly organised crime syndicates
 Changes in the portico of trafficked persons.
 Extended linkage between trafficking network
and political networks
 Increasing profits with little risk gross human rights
violation for capital accumulation.

39. ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM
 Victims of domestic violence requiring assistance
often face their problems alone without any
support from their relatives or neighbors
 Institutional and legal systems should be more
efficient response to cases of domestic violence.

40.  There are few organizations providing
social, housing, legal, and psychological
assistance to victims of violence; lack of
programs for self-assistance and self-
defense for victims of domestic violence.
 combating domestic violence and of
providing assistance to victims.

41.  Lack of modern empirical diagnostics and
practical knowledge essential for better
 understanding and combating the
phenomenon of domestic violence.
 The level of public stereotypes concerning
domestic violence complicates preventing
this violence and solving related problems.

42. STRATEGIES FOR PROMOTION OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
A =ADOPTION OF HEALTHY LIFE STYLE
D=DEVELOP APPROPRIATE I.E.C. STRATEGY
DISCOURAGE EARLY MARRIAGE AND TEENAGE PREGNANCY
O=ORGANIZE ADOLECENT/ YOUTH FRIENDLY CLINIC
L=LIFE SKILL EDUCATION , LEGAL SUPPORT, LIASIAN WITH PEERS , PARENTS
E=EDUCATE ABOUT SEXUALITY,SAFE SEX,SPIRITUALITY,RESPONSIBLE
PARENTHOOD
S=SAFE, SECURE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO BE PROVIDED
C=COUNSELLING / CURRICULM IN SCHOOL INCUSIVE OF FAMILY
LIFE EDUCATION
E=ENABLE &EMPOWER FOR RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP
N=NETWORKING FOR EXPERIENCE SHARING
T=TRAINING FOR INCOME GENERATION,TEEN CLUBS
08/17/12 42

43. Risk Factors
There's pressure to fit in socially, to perform
academically, and to act responsibly.
There's the awakening of sexual feelings, a growing self-
identity, and a need for autonomy that often conflicts
with the rules and expectations set by the society

44. Providing help
• Make sure your child has someone he can confide in. If
your teen feels you don't understand, suggest a more
neutral person - a grandparent, a spiritual person, a coach,
a school counselor, or your child's doctor.
• Don't minimize or discount what your child is going
through. This will only reinforce his sense of hopelessness.
• Take your child's behavior seriously. Three quarters of all
people who attempt suicide have given some type of
warning to loved ones.
• Always express your love, concern, and support.

45. • Don't postpone seeing a doctor. Your child should be
evaluated for depression so that treatment can begin
immediately.
• Express to your child that with help he will begin to feel
better and that his problems can be overcome.
• If you think your child is suicidal, get help immediately.
• Your child's doctor can refer you to a psychologist or
psychiatrist.

46. Tips for Parenting During Adolescence
Educate Yourself
Read books about adolescence.
Think back on your own.
Remember your struggles with acne or your embarrassment
at developing early - or late.
Expect some mood changes in your typically sunny child,
and be prepared for more conflict as s/he finds her way as an
individual.
Parents who know what's coming can cope with it better.
And the more you know, the better you can prepare your child.

47. Talk to Your Child Early Enough
Talking about menstruation or wet dreams after they've already
started means you are too late.
Answer the early questions your child has about bodies,
such as the differences between boys and girls and where babies
come from.
Don't overload your child with information - just answer their
questions.

48. Put Yourself in Your Child's Place
Practice empathy with your growing child.
Help your child understand that it's normal to be a bit concerned or
self-conscious.
Tell your child it's OK to feel grown up 1 minute and like a little child
the next. "Use helpful phrases like
'Yes, this is a difficult time' and ‘I know you might feel confused' and
'It's all right, and we'll all get through it,' "

49. Inform Your Adolescent - and Stay Informed
Adolescence is often a time of experimentation, and sometimes
that experimentation includes risky behaviors.
Don't avoid the subjects of sex and drug, alcohol, and tobacco use;
discussing these things openly with your child before she is exposed to
them
The discussion increases the chance that your child will act
responsibly when the time comes.

50. Know the Warning Signs
A certain amount of changes may be normal in
adolescence,
but too drastic a switch in a child's personality or
behavior may signal real trouble.
Watch out for one or more of these warning signs:
Extreme weight gain or loss
Sleep problems
Rapid, drastic changes in personality
Sudden change in friends
Skipping school continually
Falling grades
Talk or even jokes about suicide
Symptoms of tobacco, alcohol, or drug use

51. Conclusion
 Adolescence as we see is a phase of intense change and
through up in its wake a gamut of peculiar problems.
 Problems are multifarious of mind boggling proportion,
we can not sit idle and chose to ignore this ever
increasing crisis, we the parents needs to know how to
deal with this challenge.
 Even if children do not listen to parents, most of time
they inadvertently imitate parental behavior.
 Parents should be able to offer a loving relationship A
balance of excess and deprivation.
 Love grows best when given and received
 Hugging will give your child immense feeling of security.

52. Conclusion
 Communication-human race has exquisite ability of being
able to communicate with each other by language and
gesture
 Adolescents get a feeling of loved when communicated in
words and actions by their parents
 The magic of touch: a soft pat on back will quite a
disturbed adolescent
 Appropriate discipline: appropriate ways of human
behavior should be demanded by the parents
 A vast number of complex interacting factors ,which
include genetic factors, parental attitude, family
atmosphere, the peers & friends effect of social change all
decide “Personality of the adolescence”

53. THE CHALLENGES ARE THERE BUT
POTENTIAL IS FAR GREATER
Thank You!