Knowledge on Pubertal Changes Among Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Background: Puberty is stage of life in which girls reach sexual maturity.1   The exact period when a normal puberty begins is not defined. But the duration of puberty lasts approximately about 2-3 years and over this time the pubertal changes occurs slowly.2  This is a transition phase which makes them vulnerable to a number of problems, for example, psychosocial problems, general and reproductive health problems, and sexuality related problems3. Aim: The present study was aimed to assess knowledge on pubertal changes among adolescent girls. Methodology: A nonexperimental descriptive research resign was adopted to assess the knowledge on pubertal changes among adolescent girls between 12-15 years of age in selected school at Karaikal. By purposive sampling technique, 108 adolescent girls studying in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th standard were selected for the present study. A pretested self structured interview schedule was used to collect the data from the study participants. Descriptive statistics along with chi square statistics were used to analysis the collected data. Results: The results of the present study revealed that the mean age at menarche was 12.25±0.94. The present study revealed that the majority 71% (77) adolescent girls had inadequate knowledge with mean & SD 6.57±2.27, 23% (25) had moderately adequate knowledge with mean & SD 12.24±1.05 and the least 6% (6) had adequate knowledge with mean & SD 16.83±0.77 on pubertal changes. The overall mean knowledge on pubertal changes was 8.45 with Standard deviation 0.44. There was a significant association between level of knowledge on pubertal changes with demographic variables such as age (X2= 0.042), mother’s education(X2 = 0.023), mother’s occupation (X2= 0.022) and religion (X2 = 0.002) of the adolescent girls. Conclusion: Inadequate knowledge on pubertal changes predisposes adolescent girls to anxiety, stress and inadequate coping pattern. Hence it is necessary to create awareness through health education programme to the adolescent girls particularly before the onset of puberty to reduce stress and to enhance coping pattern