LAHORE, Dec 11: Pakistani parents are reluctant to discuss intimate health issues with their adolescent and growing up children, as a result young adults, both male and female, lack proper knowledge about puberty-related issues.

Jamia Naeemia Nazim Maulana Raghib Hussain Naeemi said this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

He said this sort of reluctance on parents’ part could leave children unprepared for the physical and emotional changes related with adolescence and increase their vulnerability to exploitation, abuse and life-threatening diseases.

He said one of the main reasons of societal decay was that neither parents nor teachers provided any guidance to children entering adulthood, the period also known as adolescence.

Maulana Naeemi said the chances of children going astray would persist if they were not provided proper guidance on such issues.

“Puberty is that delicate juncture in the life in which the human body undergoes key physical and emotional changes. This natural process is caused by hormonal changes, which prepares the body for adulthood,” he said.

He said Islam stressed on imparting such knowledge to children to ensure their safety from harm.

“It is parents’ duty to prepare children for this phase of life and provide support and guidance (to them) on various physiological and sexual changes of puberty,” he added.

The Maulana urged parents to form a closer bond with their children, which could make it comfortable for them to share their thoughts about such delicate matters and turn to them for advice.