Only 29 percent girls and 41 percent boys have access to correct information about puberty and hygiene in Pakistan. Most of the Pakistani parents feel uneasy while discussing sensitive but vital health issues with their growing up children. This communication gap makes children vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and life threatening diseases.
Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi in a statement issued to the press stressed on the importance of communication between parents and children about intimate health issues. “It has become more important with the passage of time that families should guide their children in a friendly manner about the matters and problems relating to adulthood. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) has said that one who is good to his family is better among all of you,” said Hafiz Ashrafi.
The Journal of Pakistan Medical Association (JMPA) published the findings of a survey titled “understanding of puberty and related health problems among female adolescents in Karachi.” The data was collected from 150 females between the ages of 10 and 19. The survey revealed that majority of participants had limited knowledge about puberty and sexual health. About 72 percent of participants believed that they should be given proper information about puberty and the changes of adolescence so they can deal with them better.
“Instead of opting for sanity, people guide the children in a wrong direction, which could lead to many other serious problems,” Hafiz Ashrafi added.
Absence of right information from right quarters on puberty and related issues misleads the adolescents and exposes them to wrong, illegitimate, immoral, exploiting and abusive sources of information and misconduct. Experts advise that boys and girls of reproductive age should be taught about HIV&AIDS as well as other sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) with focus on high risk behaviors as well as available preventive and precautionary measures to safeguard them against the pandemic. Adolescents should be given education, self-awareness and confidence to handle their new health and hygiene needs during the puberty.
The Quran and Sunnah discuss human life at length. Society should be open in educating adolescent boys and girls about puberty in the light of religious teachings which provide essential guidance on matters related to puberty to the youngsters as well as their parents.
“This is our Islamic, moral and legal duty to bring up our kids in a manner that could lead them to a bright future,” Hafiz Ashrafi concluded.
