Dropping out of school among adolescent boys and girls: Implications for economic development and health among younger population

Background: Education and development both are interlinked. Younger generation in Pakistan face unique problems of lack of education and awareness about health, which not only hinders economic prosperity and development but may also translate into poor knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

 

Study objectives: To assess the risk factors leading to involuntarily school/college dropouts among late adolescent girls and boys (17-21 years) in Karachi, Pakistan, and investigate associations with knowledge level on STDs and HIV/AIDS.

 

Study design, setting and participants: A population based cross-sectional study of 1650 male and female adolescents aged 17-21 years living in Karachi was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Multi-staged cluster sampling design was used to collect data representative of general population. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed separately for boys and girls.

 

Main results: Among boys, dropping out of school was associated with migrant residential status (AOR=95% confidence interval, 3.66; 2.53, 5.30), living in extended family type (AOR=2.87; 1.48, 5.56) and low SES (AOR=3.35; 2.19, 5.12) Among girls, these factors were, being married (AOR=8.28; 4.57, 15.03), migrant residential status (AOR=1.77; 1.28, 2.44), low SES (AOR=2.29; 1.66, 3.18) and living in extended family type (AOR=1.38; 0.98, 1.93). It was further found that boys who dropped out were less likely to have heard of STDs (COR=4.18; 2.15, 8.14), HIV/AIDS (COR=2.53; 1.78, 3.59) and have poor knowledge about STDs (COR=2.90; 1.23, 6.83).

 

Conclusion: Adolescents from poor families are at increased risk of dropping out of school/college. Furthermore, boys were of an apparent risk of being ignorant on serious sexually transmitted diseases.

 

We recommend measures to increase school enrolment by parental counselling and provision of cost-effective and quality education where basics on sexual and reproductive health are included in the curriculum. Government should also take in to consideration poverty reduction strategies to uplift general economic conditions and development.