title: School based adolescent care services: a district model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the perceived problems of higher secondary school students in a district and to document the effect of a family life and life skill education package.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted among 11501 adolescents belonging to 103 higher secondary schools in Thiruvananthapuram district, using Teenage Screening Questionnaire-Trivandrum (TSQ-T). Family life and life skill education package was given to class XI students and post intervention evaluation of improvement in knowledge level was assessed after 6 months by a structured pre-tested self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  61.2% adolescents reported scholastic problem, 22.1% family related problems, 31.9% personal problems and 15.2% adjustment problems, with boys reporting higher percentage. 65.8% reported body image related problems, 26.4% had dental, 21.3% ENT and 16.2% had dermatological complaints. Among girls 50.2% reported menstrual problems. 506 adolescents volunteered for medical check-up and 1247 for detailed psychological assessment. Family life and life skill education package showed consistent improvement in knowledge even after a gap of 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results showed that a school based adolescent care service programme is effective and feasible.
authors: Child Development Centre, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram 695011, Kerala, India. cdcmkc@gmail.com
authors: M K C
authors: MK
authors: Nair
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Leena
authors: Babu
authors: B
authors: George
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Kasthuri
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Chandramohan
authors: P S
authors: PS
authors: Russell
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