Reproductive health knowledge and practices: the gap between young boys and girls in seven Asian countries

Mary-Odile Lognard, Université Catholique de Louvain
Catherine Gourbin, Université Catholique de Louvain

The overall objective of this study is to document sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, behaviour and needs of young people (10-24) in seven Asian countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam). More specifically, drawing on quantitative and qualitative surveys conducted in 2004 in these countries, we describe SRH knowledge and practice among young males and females and we identify major gaps between their knowledge and practice. Using multivariate analyses and results of qualitative surveys, we also seek to identify the factors explaining these gaps between knowledge and practice, with a specific emphasis on gender differences.