Foreword I am happy to compliment this anthology on 'Reproductive Health and Sex Education' which has 18 selected re-search articles. I feel that the theme of the volume is of extreme relevance and it is necessary for the society to tune-up the ethical aspects. As the adolescents become sexually active, they face serious health risks due to little factual information and lack of guidance about sexual responsibility. To-day, adolescents are facing high risk of unwanted pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, The rate of its in-crease is alarming. So the concept of Reproductive Care and Sex Education is not new but its importance in the present days has grown multidimensionally because of Population Explosion and various related problems. The task of intervention is not going to be an easy.

Preface Young people face serious health hazards in modern times. Adolescent girls, in particular, are likely to suffer sexual abuse, violence and rape from which they need protection. A large number of adolescent boys and girls in the age group of 16-24 years start sex much before marriage in urban areas and also due to early marriage in rural areas. Virtually all these adolescents are in need of education, information, counseling and health services with regard to their reproductive health, sexuality and responsible parenthood.

Besides most unguarded adolescents are susceptible to several risks like Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) including infection with Human Immuno Deficiency (HIV) resulting in AIDS, risks of pregnancy often leading to unsafe abortions and its complications, too early pregnancy and child-bearing and consequent illness, sexual coercion, violence and abuse. These can endanger not only their physical health but also create long term emotional, economic and social impoverishments and losses. It is essential that these adolescents are to be protected from unwanted sex, early child bearing, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, S D and HIV/AIDS.

Similarly, today the world is facing the problem of population growth which lead to most of the natural problems and as well the man-made hazards including resource depletion, improper hygienic conditions, pollution, malnutrition, ill-health, illiteracy, unemployment, underemployment, poverty, over crowd and other socio-economic crises.

Hence a national seminar was organised in Tamil University, Thanjavur on 20.03.2007 in which Academics, Re-searchers and Professionals participated and presented the research papers with regard to the important issues mentioned above. The main recommendations of the seminar are; 1. To introduce sex education from std IX onwards to develop awareness among adolescents, 2. To start certificate course on Reproductive Health and Sex Education and, 3. To make 'efforts to integrate the contents of Population Education and Health Education at High School/Collegiate level.

This book entitled 'Reproductive Health and Sex Education' is the outcome of the above seminar. It has 18 selected papers. This book is divided into five sections, viz.,

1. Sex Education for youth

2. Reproductive and Child Health care

3. Population Growth and Problems

4. Nutrition and Health status and

5. Prevention of STI, HIV/AIDS

I express my gratitude to the University Grants Com-mission, New Delhi for their financial support to the organization of the seminar as well as the publication of this book.

I am more grateful to Dr.M.Rajendiran, Vice - Chancellor, Tamil University, Thanjavur for having granted per-mission not only to bring out but also to give foreword to the volume.

I extend my thanks to Dr.A.Karthikeyan, Registrar i/c, Tamil University, Thanjavur for his encouragement to publish the articles.

I specially place on record my sincere thanks to Dr.Palani Arangasamy, former Professor of English and Director of Publication, Tamil University for having gone through and effected necessary correction in the entire volume and to shape the volume in better form and style.

I am also thankful to all contributing authors, Staff and Students (A. Thirumagal Rajam, P. Rajakala) of the Dept. of Social Sciences, Tamil University for extending their sup-port in bringing out the volume.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages