The pattern of adolescent puberty at Sekar Pengharapan orphanage and Widya Asih orphanage, Badung, Bali

Abstract

Background: Puberty is a transition phase from adolescence to adulthood. In this period, there are physical, hormonal and psychological changes. The appearance of secondary sex characteristics characterizes puberty and ends with the arrival of menarche in girls and complete genital development in boys. This study determined the pattern of puberty in adolescents in orphanages. Method: This study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. The data were taken at Sekar Pengharapan and Widhya Asih orphanage Badung, Bali, on December 4th, 2021. The subjects in this study were children who entered the age of puberty in an orphanage and met inclusion and exclusion criteria. The ethics section of Medical Faculty Universitas Udayana/Sanglah Hospital approved this research. The SPSS program analyzed the data with p<0,05 determined significant value. Result: 50 subjects who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria participated in this study; 31 (62.0%) subjects were female, and 19 (38.0%) were male. The research subjects' age (mean±SD) was 15.5±1.3 years. There were 3 subjects (6.0%) in prepubertal condition, while most (50.0%) were in the Tanner scale stage 4. Most subjects had good nutritional status (92.0%), and no subject was stunted. The average length of stay in the orphanage of the subjects was 13.3 ± 9.2 months. Most subjects were on the Tanner 4, about 25 people (50%). The average age of menarche in this study was 11.5 ± 0.6 years. Conclusion: The level of sexual maturity in orphanage adolescents is relatively normal in the orphanage population. However, there are still 3 teenagers who are at prepubertal age. The age of menarche in women is relatively normal based on age.