Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS) NCERT Solutions | Health and Physical Education for Class 9 PDF Download

Answer the following Questions

Q.1. Why are special health services needed for adolescents? Give four reasons.
i. …………………………………………………….
ii. …………………………………………………….
iii. …………………………………………………….
iv. ………….…………………………………………

Special health services are needed for adolescents because: 
i. They have a lot of concerns, apprehensions, and a lack of understanding regarding their own needs.
ii. The adolescents feel shy, embarrassed, and reluctant to converse with grown-ups, particularly in regards to issues that are personal.
iii. Most adolescents avoid seeking care and guidance.
iv. They feel more comfortable discussing their problems and concerns with their peers who also do not have scientific knowledge. Following there wrong instruction may put them in trouble. 
Because of this, special health services like separate adolescent friendly health services need to be provided. Such special clinics can take care of all the concerns of the adolescents in an ambience in which they can utilise services without any hesitation.

Q.2. What are the common barriers which prevent adolescents from using the health facilities?

Common barriers which prevent adolescents from using the health facilities are: 

• Myths and misconceptions related to the development of sexual and reproductive organs. 
• Lack of knowledge of the location of the health services or the kinds of services offered by them.
• Adolescents are not able to go to clinics as their timings do not match their schedule. They cannot miss school and college classes to visit these clinics.
• Lack of privacy and confidentiality in health clinics.
• Long waiting period in the public health clinics.
• Cannot afford the fees of the private set up.
• No transport or means to go to these clinics, especially in rural areas. Moreover, they are unable to afford the cost of visiting these clinics.
• Negative attitudes or judgemental behaviour of nurses and doctors.
• The routine hospitals do not entertain adolescents coming alone, especially when they have issues regarding sexual and reproductive health. Most hospitals require the parent to accompany them and to give permission for any procedure or testing as per the legal requirement.

Q.3. Explain the various health needs of Adolescents.

Various health needs of Adolescents are: 

• Nutritional Needs: Providing them with adequate nutrition to avoid undernourished adolescence.
• Reproductive and Sexual Health Needs: Providing necessary information regarding reproductive and sexual health.
• Mental Health Concerns: Taking sensitive care of the victims of mental health concerns.  
• Substance Abuse: Creating awareness about the adverse effects of drugs, tobacco and alcohol consumption.
• Accidental injuries: Educating the adolescents on how to avoid accidental injuries.

Q.4. “Reproductive and sexual health problems are the most difficult to share with the AFHS doctor.” Why? Give at least three reasons.
i. …………………………………………………….
ii. …………………………………………………….
iii. …………………………………………………….

Most of the adolescents feel  that reproductive and sexual health problems are the most difficult to share with the AFHS doctor because:
i. Lack of privacy and confidentiality.
ii. Negative attitudes or judgemental behaviour of the doctor.
iii. Most of the doctors do not entertain adolescents coming alone, especially when they have issues regarding sexual and reproductive health. Most of the doctors require the parent to accompany them and to give permission for any procedure or testing as per the legal requirement.

From Questions 4 to 7 tick ( ✓) the options which you feel are correct. You may tick more than one option.

1. The adolescents do not go to hospital due to:
(a) lack of privacy.
(b) not sure of confidentiality.
(c) cannot afford fees.
(d) timings not suitable.
(e) don’t feel comfortable.

Correct Answer is Option (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e)

• Adolescents are not able to go to a hospital because they fear that there is a lack of privacy. They fear that nurses and other staff divulge information about them to the parents or acquaintances, about what they came to the hospital for.
• Adolescents are not able to go to a hospital because they are not sure of confidentiality. They fear that nurses and other staff divulge information about them to the parents or acquaintances, about what they came to the hospital for.
• Adolescents are not able to go to a hospital because they cannot afford the fees. As adolescents want to visit the hospital without accompanying parents, so they alone cannot afford the high fees.
• Adolescents are not able to go to a hospital as their timings do not match their schedule. They cannot miss school and college classes to visit these hospitals.
• Adolescents are not able to go to a hospital because they don’t feel comfortable in discussing their problem a doctor. They feel more comfortable in discussing their problems and concerns with their peers who also do not have scientific knowledge.

2. An Ideal facility for AFHS should
(a) be away from the city.
(b) have convenient timings.
(c) maintain privacy and confidentiality.
(d) be near the villages.

Correct Answer is Option (b), (c) and (d)

• An ideal facility for AFHS should have convenient timings. Because adolescents are not able to go to a hospital as their timings do not match their schedules. They cannot miss school and college classes to visit these hospitals.
• An ideal facility for AFHS should maintain privacy and confidentiality. Because adolescents are not able to go to a hospital as they are in a fear of lack of privacy and confidentiality. They fear that nurses and other staff divulge information about them to the parents or acquaintances, about what they came to the hospital for.
• An Ideal facility for AFHS should be near the villages. Because adolescents are not able to go to a hospital as there is no transport or means to go to these hospitals away from villages. Moreover, they are unable to afford the cost of visiting these hospitals.

3. The staff in AFHS should:
(a) be specially trained staff who are able to understand the adolescent issues.
(b) be non-judgmental.
(c) respect adolescents.
(d) have a lot of patience and time to understand the adolescent problems.

Correct Answer is Option (a), (b), (c) and (d)

• The staff in AFHS should be adequately trained to handle adolescence issues through discussion and counselling. They shall admire the thought of an individual that he/she has visited such institutions for personal care.
• The staff in AFHS should be non-judgemental and non-critical of the issues an adolescent comes to the clinic with, including issues regarding sexual and reproductive health. They shall admire the thought of an individual that he/she has visited such institutions for personal care.
• The staff in AFHS should show respect to the adolescents. They should help them to handle the adolescence issues through discussion and counselling.
• The staff in AFHS should spend adequate time and show lot of patience to make the adolescent feel comfortable to discuss all issues related to puberty such as body image, relationships and sexuality.

4. Special services delivered in AFHS are:
(a) sexual and reproductive health issues.
(b) nutrition counselling.
(c) treatment of cancer and acute diseases.
(d) prevention of substance abuse.
(e) eye operation.
(f) immunisation.
(g) specially challenged youth.

Correct Answer is Option (a), (b), (d), (f) and (g)

• Adolescents face a number of reproductive and sexual health problems. They hesitate to seek information from authentic sources as such issues are considered taboo in our society. So, Adolescent friendly health services (AFHS) provides special services like providing necessary information regarding reproductive and sexual health.
• Adolescent friendly health services (AFHS) provides special services like providing adolescents with necessary information regarding adequate nutrition to be taken, healthy eating habits, and physical exercises to prevent undernourished adolescence.
• Adolescent friendly health services (AFHS) provides special services like creating awareness about the adverse effects of drugs, tobacco and alcohol consumption.
• Adolescent friendly health services (AFHS) provides special services like encouraging adolescents to take missed vaccine doses for immunisation.
• Adolescent friendly health services (AFHS) provides special services to specially challenged youth. They need special care compared to others.

5. List the services which you would like to be addressed in the AFHS.
(a) ..............................................................................
(b) ..............................................................................
(c) ..............................................................................

(a) Monitoring growth and development of adolescent and providing the required information about changes.
(b) Providing them with information on adequate nutrition to avoid undernourished adolescence.
(c) Providing necessary information regarding reproductive and sexual health.