Action Research on the Challenges Bangladeshi Adolescent Boys Face During Puberty

Adolescent boys in Bangladesh experience significant physical, emotional, and psychological changes during puberty but often lack access to accurate information and support regarding their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). While national SRHR efforts have largely focused on adolescent girls, boys remain neglected due to social norms, cultural taboos, and policy gaps. This lack of attention leaves boys vulnerable to misinformation, risky behaviors, and reinforces harmful gender norms. Addressing this gap is critical for promoting healthier decision-making, gender equality, and overall youth development. Following this, the study aims to identify the key challenges faced by adolescent boys during puberty, examine the impact on their SRHR-related decision-making and behavior, assess the role of socio-cultural norms, and develop evidence-based recommendations to create more inclusive, gender-responsive SRHR interventions in Bangladesh.

The study uses a mixed-methods approach combining a questionnaire survey with adolescent boys,  focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interviews (IDIs), key informant interviews (KIIs) with stakeholders, including health workers, youth leaders, and policymakers, and 4 observational studies. A comprehensive literature review will complement the primary data to strengthen the analysis and support evidence-based recommendations.