{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T11:56:22Z","timestamp":1790682982387,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"African Journal of Reproductive Health (AJRH)","issue":"17","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["AJRH"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Tribal adolescents experience considerable sexual and reproductive  health challenges due to socio-cultural taboos, limited access to health services, and inadequate guidance. These factors increase vulnerability to early marriage, early pregnancy, and poor health-seeking practices. This study examined sexual and reproductive health beliefs and experiences among tribal adolescents in Kerala, India. A qualitative study employing thematic analysis was conducted. Fifty participants (18 adolescent girls, 20 mothers, and 12 health volunteers) were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through eight focus group discussions using validated FGD guides.  Five major themes and sixteen subthemes emerged, including menstrual health and hygiene; behavioral and socio-cultural influences; misconceptions regarding sexually transmitted diseases; limited awareness and access to contraceptives; and barriers to reproductive health services such as distance, transport constraints, and lack of adolescent-friendly care. The study concludes that sexual and reproductive health beliefs of tribal adolescents are influenced by socio-cultural norms, knowledge gaps, limited parent\u2013adolescent communication, and restricted healthcare access. Addressing these challenges requires culturally appropriate education, parental involvement, and strengthened adolescent-friendly health services.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.29063\/ajrh2026\/v30i17.8","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T09:06:56Z","timestamp":1789981616000},"page":"92","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Beliefs and perceptions of sexual and reproductive health and rights among tribal adolescent girls in Kerala, India: A qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.29063","volume":"30","author":[{"given":"Smitha","family":"JS","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Nitte (Deemed to be University), Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences(NUINS), Mangalore, India ; Sree Gokulam Nursing College, Affiliated to Kerala University of Health Sciences, Kerala, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sabitha","family":"Nayak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nitte (Deemed to be University), Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences(NUINS), Mangalore, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lija R","family":"Nath","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sree Gokulam Nursing College, Affiliated to Kerala University of Health Sciences, Kerala, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lakshmi","family":"Manjeera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nitte (Deemed to be University), KS Hegde Medical Academy(KSHEMA), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mangalore, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"PrasannaKumar","family":"Shetty K","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nitte (Deemed to be University), KS Hegde Medical Academy(KSHEMA), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mangalore, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nalini","family":"M","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nitte (Deemed to be University), Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences (NUINS), Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Mangalore, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manju","family":"L","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation, Department of Community medicine, Kerala, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"11599","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"container-title":["AFRICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T11:03:14Z","timestamp":1790679794000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajrh.info\/index.php\/ajrh\/article\/view\/7241"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"17","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.29063\/ajrh2026\/v30i17.8","relation":{},"ISSN":["1118-4841","2141-3606"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1118-4841","type":"print"},{"value":"2141-3606","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]}}}