Assessing The Source of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice On Pubertal Awareness Among Pre-Pubertal Girls
Assessing The Source of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice On Pubertal Awareness Among Pre-Pubertal Girls
Assessing The Source of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice On Pubertal Awareness Among Pre-Pubertal Girls
1
Department of Pharmacy Practice, JKK Nattraja College of Pharmacy, Kumarapalyam, Tamil Nadu, India
2
Department of Pharmacology, JKK Nattraja College of Pharmacy, Kumarapalyam, Tamil Nadu, India
3
Department of Pharmaceutics, JKK Nattraja College of Pharmacy, Kumarapalyam, Tamil Nadu, India
ABSTRACT
A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate the source knowledge, attitude and
practice on pubertal awareness among pre-pubertal girls. A pre designed questionnaire which
consists of questions to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of pubertal awareness on
pre-pubertal girls were used for data collection. Information on demographic variables which
include age, class, type of family, education of parents, sources of information was collected
from the participants. Total 450 prepubertal girls, 150 each from state board school,
matriculation board school and central board school were included in the study. The study
resulted that 52.6% of state board school participants major source of information were siblings,
64.6% of matriculation board and 68% of central board participants major source of information
were mothers. The mean average level of knowledge was found to be (10%), attitude (23.5%)
and practice (16.2%) for state board participants, for matriculation board participants the mean
average level of knowledge (32.7%), attitude (58.3%) and practice (42.6%) and for central board
participants the mean average level of knowledge (47.4%), attitude (59.6%) and practice
(53.8%). Study concluded that most of the participants from central board school have good
knowledge, attitude and practice regarding pubertal changes when compared with the state board
and matriculation board, and the major source of information was mother for majority of study
participants. The result demonstrated that based on parent’s literacy, the knowledge of girls on
puberty increases. Creating awareness regarding puberty through health education is very
essential to help the adolescent girls to handle sexuality related issues confidently.
*
KRISHNAVENI KANDASAMY
interview was conducted in each study participants based on Knowledge, attitude and practice were
and their doubts were cleared along with the close-ended with yes or no responses. There were
assurance of confidentiality in all schools. This 12 questions on knowledge on puberty which
session was followed by a health education session included the sign and precocious age of puberty,
through seminars regarding pubertal awareness order of pubertal development, the hormones
(introduction to puberty, stages of pubertal period, responsible for puberty, role of pituitary gland in
physical changes- secondary sexual characteristics secondary sexual characters. Attitude towards
and emotional changes that occur during puberty) puberty consists of 15 questions regarding the need
and self-hygienic practices. (Figure 1) of awareness camp on puberty, satisfied with their
decisions, irritations, anxiety, mood changes, and
Tools used beauty preoccupation about the body. Hygienic
A separate questionnaire was designed in Tamil and practice towards puberty consists of 5 questions
English language to incorporate the participant’s regarding the cleaning of the genital area, drying
details. The questionnaire form included the items their underwear in sunlight, advantages in using the
which included socio demographic characteristics private toilet, bathing twice daily, comfortable
such as parent’s education, types of families, main clothes.
source of information about puberty. Questions
Figure 1
Methodology
matriculation board 78 (52%) and central board 106 matriculation board, state board versus central
(70.6%) belong to Hindu religion, 107(71.3%) state board and matriculation board versus central board
board, 90(60%) matriculation board and 93(62%) are highly significant with p value <0.0001.
central board study subjects belong to nuclear
family and majority of study subjects from state Attitude level towards puberty
board 83 (55.3%), matriculation board 44(29.3%) The attitude towards puberty for the entire study
and central board 23(15.3%) were 6th standard. population was 493(23.5%) in state board,
Maximum state board participant’s father 81(54%) 1225(58.3%) for matriculation board and
and mother 74(49.3%) have primary education, 1253(59.6%) for central board school, (Table 3)
matriculation board participant’s father 62(41.3%) which was statistically significant {F (2,447)=204.1
and mother 63(42%) have a high school education (p-value <0.0001)}.The intercomparison of
and central board participant’s father 89(59.3%) attitudes between schools based on tukey’s multiple
and mother 42(28%) were degree holders. Mother comparison (Table 5) results that state board versus
was the major source of information for most of the matriculation board, state board versus central
study subjects in matriculation board 97(64.6%) board is highly significant with p value <0.0001
and central board 103(68.6%), but siblings were the and matriculation board versus central board is non-
major source for state board 79(52.6%) significant with p value 0.7889.
participants. Because the mother is being close to
children, she is the prime source of information Practice on puberty
regarding the menstruation among adolescent girls. The practice on puberty for the entire study
The majority of state board 76(50.6%) and central population was 122(16.2%) in state board,
board 96(64%) study subjects was the second child 320(42.6%) for matriculation board and
and matriculation board 65(43.3%) were first child. 404(53.8%) for central board school, (Table 4)
Based on their birth order, the source of which was statistically significant {F(2,447)=114.8
information may vary. Thus the main source of (p-value <0.0001)}. This is because of the lack of
information for the first child was the mother and knowledge of respondents on the importance of
for second child was mother followed by sisters or hygiene of their reproductive organs. The inter
friends. comparison of practice between schools based on
tukey’s multiple comparison (Table 5) results that
Knowledge level on puberty state board versus matriculation board, state board
The knowledge of puberty for the entire study versus central board and matriculation board versus
population in each curriculum board school showed central board are highly significant with p value
that 181(10%) for state board, 589(32.7%) for <0.0001. The comparison of pre-pubertal girl’s
matriculation board and 854(47.4%) for central negative responses for knowledge questions with
board school (Table 2) which was statistically maternal education of state board, matriculation
significant {F (2,447) = 195.3 (p-value board and central board participants represent that
<0.0001)}.The intercomparison of knowledge based on mother’s education the knowledge level of
between schools based on tukey's multiple girls may differ.
comparison (Table 5) results that state board versus
Table 1
Socio- demographic details
SB MB CB
S.no Categorization
n=150 (%) n=150 (%) n=150 (%)
11 53 (35.3) 48 (32) 58 (38.6)
12 47 (31.3) 59 (39) 61 (40.6)
1. Age
13 29 (19.3) 23 (15) 18 (12)
14 21 (14) 20 (13) 13 (8.6)
6th 83 (55.3) 58 (38.6) 57 (38)
2. Class 7th 44 (29.3) 56 (37.3) 54 (36)
8th 23 (15.3) 36 (24) 39 (26)
Joint 88 (58.6) 78 (52) 106 (70.6)
3. Family
Nuclear 25 (16.6) 28 (18.6) 25 (16)
4. Religion Hindu 37 (24.6) 44 (29.3) 19 (12)
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Int. J. Life Sci. Pharma Res. 2019 Oct; 9(4): (P) 71-80 ISSN 2250-0480
Table 2
Frequency of various responses to knowledge questions on pubertal
changes between school students
Table 3
Frequency of various responses to attitude questions on pubertal
changes between school students
State Matric Central
S.no Attitude questions Board Board Board
n=150 n=150 n=150
Awareness camps should be organized regarding
1. 36(24%) 127(84.6%) 115(76.6%)
pubertal changes
2. Pubertal changes are must to attain maturity 20(13.3%) 137(91.3%) 116(77.3%)
Prior knowledge about pubertal changes is
3. 40(26.6%) 114(76%) 117(78%)
necessary before their onset
Peer understands my feelings better as compared to
4. 33(22%) 33(22%) 87(58%)
parents
Menstruation is shameful and embarrassing
5. 34(22.6%) 122(81.3%) 73(48.6%)
situation for girls
Mood changes are not a normal part of pubertal
6. 41(27.3%) 121(80.6%) 77(49.3%)
process
Menstruation makes me unclean to perform
7. 45(30%) 117(78%) 94(62.6%)
religious activities
8. Growth of hair on body area will spoil my beauty 40(26.6%) 49(32.6%) 79(52.6%)
Friends and internet alone not provide complete
9. 43(28.6%) 42(28%) 103(68.6%)
information
Everyone has focus to attention and concern on my
10. 45(30%) 116(77.3%) 69(48%)
changes
11. You may get irritable often 43(28.6%) 93(62%) 64(42.6%)
12. You may worried/anxious most if time 44(29.3%) 82(54.6%) 92(61.3%)
13. Are you comfortable with your own decision 8(5.3%) 63(42%) 60(40%)
If any unpleasure sense I feel, I consult with my
14. 21(14%) 8(5.3%) 107(71.3%)
family or educator
Table 4
Frequency of various responses to attitude questions on pubertal
changes between school students
Table 5
Comparison of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding puberty between schools
Attitude
SB vs MB -4.88 -5.549 to -4.211 Significant <0.0001
SB vs CB -5.067 -5.735 to -4.398 Significant <0.0001
Non
MB vs CB -0.1867 -0.8555 to 0.4821 0.7889
significant
Practice
SB vs MB -1.32 -1.62 to -1.02 Significant <0.0001
SB vs CB -1.88 -2.18 to -1.58 Significant <0.0001
MB vs CB -0.56 -0.8595 to 0.2605 Significant <0.0001
P-value: <0.01, SB-State Board, MB-Matriculation Board, CB- Central Board
matriculation board study participants. Self hygiene adolescent girl’s suffering from the infection to
is very important for adolescent girls and it can reproductive organ. Creating awareness concerning
prevent them from various reproductive tract puberty through health education is incredibly
infections. Our study, consistent with Sakineh et essential to assist the adolescent girls to handle
al., (2014)22 found that the student self-hygiene sexuality related problems with confidence. By
practice was moderate. Variables of age at providing correct information in school throughout
menarche, education grade, father’s education, their formal education period will be a valuable
family economic status, the main source of resource for adolescents and for their future kids.
information about puberty were found to be
predictors of practice in adolescents. Alavi et al., ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(2009)29 in their research reported that most of the
participants do not have proper practice regarding
We wish to thank all the authors and concerned
puberty. Limitations of our study were the
schools (JKK Rangammal higher secondary school,
participants in the study might have answered some
JKK Nattraja matriculation school and Royal
questions differently in order to satisfy the enquirer.
international public school) for the support to carry
There might have been some over reporting as
out our study. on this research topic.
these observations are based on self-reported
outcomes.
AUTHORS CONTRIBUTION
CONCLUSION STATEMENT
Overall, most of the participants from central board Krishnaveni Kandasamy, Shanmugasundaram
schools have good knowledge, attitude and practice Rajagopal and Sambathkumarramanathan
regarding pubertal changes when compared to conceived the ideas and guided us in conducting
matriculation board and state board. Our study this research study. Jishala MI & Pavithra K carried
resulted that based on parent’s literacy, the out the research study, evaluated the results and
knowledge, attitude and practice of the adolescent’s drafted the manscript.
girls increases. Although the mother may be a
prime source of information, probably because CONFLICT OF INTEREST
social inhibitions and lack of awareness among
mothers, only a few girls were attentive to these Conflict of interest declared none.
changes. Early awareness of puberty will prevent
REFERENCES