Health and Lifestyle, Safety, Relationship and Personality Factors Influence Gender, Sex and Sexuality Issues among Youth—A Case Record Analysis from Youth Mental Health Promotion Clinics in Karnataka, India
Pradeep Banandur,
Swati Shahane,
Sathya Velu,
Sathrajith Bhargav,
Aditi Thakkar,
Virupaksha Hasiruvalli Gangappa,
Vani Naik,
Mutharaju Arelingaiah,
Lavanya Garady,
Jyoti Koujageri,
Sateesh L. Sajjanar,
Subhash Chandra Kashipalli Lakshminarayan,
Shalini Rajneesh,
Gururaj Gopalkrishna
Affiliations
Pradeep Banandur
Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, NIMHANS, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India
Swati Shahane
Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, NIMHANS, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India
Sathya Velu
Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, NIMHANS, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India
Sathrajith Bhargav
Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, NIMHANS, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India
Aditi Thakkar
Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, NIMHANS, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India
Virupaksha Hasiruvalli Gangappa
Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, NIMHANS, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India
Vani Naik
Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, NIMHANS, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India
Mutharaju Arelingaiah
Department of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India
Lavanya Garady
International Centre for Public Health Innovations, M S Ramaiah, Bengaluru 560054, Karnataka, India
Jyoti Koujageri
Department of Management Studies, CMR University, Bengaluru 562149, Karnataka, India
Sateesh L. Sajjanar
Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Karnataka, Bengaluru 560001, Karnataka, India
Subhash Chandra Kashipalli Lakshminarayan
Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Karnataka, Bengaluru 560001, Karnataka, India
Shalini Rajneesh
Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Karnataka, Bengaluru 560001, Karnataka, India
Gururaj Gopalkrishna
Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, NIMHANS, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India
Promoting positive identity and seeking early support for gender, sex and sexuality (GSS) issues among youth is vital. Understanding and addressing factors associated withGSS among them is critical. We assessed four-year case records (January 2017–December 2020) of all first visit youth mental health promotion clinic (YMHPC) clients (15–35 years) for factors associated with GSS issues in Karnataka. Overall, prevalence of GSS issues was 1.8% (189/10,340). Increased risk of GSS issues was observed among clients reporting suicidality (AOR = 4.27, 95% CI = 2.70–6.74) and relationship issues (AOR = 3.63, 95% CI = 2.36–5.57), followed by issues of safety (AOR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.72–3.81), personality (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.60–3.85), health and lifestyle (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.77–4.19), smokers (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.24–4.27), and those who felt depressed (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.43–3.09) and worthless (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.28–3.39). Clients aged 21–25 years (AOR = 1.80,95% CI = 1.27–2.54), male (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.20–2.46) and who had been married (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI = 1.51–3.57) had a higher risk of GSS issues than those aged 15–20 years and other counterparts, respectively. Clients who drank alcohol (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.30–0.81) had reduced risk of GSS issues. The findings re-iterate the importance of early recognition of factors (essential precursors) of GSS issues among youth. The study highlights the importance of promoting awareness and improving primordial prevention of possible GSS issues in later life. This study has important implications on youth mental health promotion programs, especially in countries like India.
