Adolescent Girls Ages Research Articles

The Experiences of Pregnancy Among Adolescent Girls in Jordan

ObjectiveTo explore the experience of pregnancy among adolescent girls ages 16 to 19 years in Jordan. DesignDescriptive exploratory qualitative design. SettingParticipants were recruited from antenatal clinics and postpartum wards in Ministry of Health primary health care clinics and hospitals across Jordan. This included a wide geographic area in Jordan that covered several cities: Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, As-Salt, and others. ParticipantsThe total number of participants was 13. Most participants were primiparous, and three were multiparous. Five participants were recruited during the postpartum period, seven in the second and third trimester, and one during the first trimester. MeasurementsData were collected using semistructured and audio-recorded interviews and analyzed concurrently. Thematic analysis was used. A total of 13 interviews were conducted. ResultsTwo core themes emerged from the study: Navigating the Change and Reflecting on the Experience of Pregnancy. The first theme included four subthemes: Making Adjustments, Seeking Support, Searching for Information, and Feeling the Responsibility. ConclusionConsidering the impact of pregnancy on adolescent girls and their fetuses, early marriages should be reconsidered in legal and health policies in Jordan and worldwide. Adolescents expressed a need for more information about pregnancy. Age-appropriate comprehensive sexual education that includes discussion of gender issues and women’s empowerment is needed. Online sources of pregnancy information targeting the needs of adolescents are also recommended. More research is needed to explore the needs of pregnant adolescents in different social and cultural contexts.

Prevalence and Assessment of Knowledge and Practices Regarding Menstrual Hygiene among Adolescent Girls (Age Group 13–18 Years) in Rural Areas of Bishnugarh, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand

Prevalence and Assessment of Knowledge and Practices Regarding Menstrual Hygiene among Adolescent Girls (Age Group 13–18 Years) in Rural Areas of Bishnugarh, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand

Comparing the multivariate relationships of conceptual adversity models and structural brain development in adolescent girls: A registered report.

Adverse experiences throughout development confer risk for a multitude of negative long-term outcomes, but the processes via which these experiences are neurobiologically embedded are still unclear. Adolescence provides an opportunity to understand how these experiences impact the brain's rapidly changing structure. Two models are central to current adversity conceptualizations: a cumulative risk model, where all types of experiences are combined to represent accumulating stress, and a dimensional model, where certain features of experience (e.g., threat or deprivation) exert unique neurophysiological influence. In this registered report, we extended upon previous research by using a form of representational similarity analysis to examine whether the dimensional and cumulative risk models of adversity predict cortical thinning in frontoparietal and frontotemporal networks and volumetric changes in subcortical regions throughout adolescence. Drawing from a longitudinal sample of 179 adolescent girls (ages 10-13 years at the first wave) from Lane County, Oregon, United States, and up to four waves of follow-up data, we found that operationalizing adversity by similarity in threat and deprivation provided better prediction of brain development than similarity in overall adversity. However, these dimensions do not exhibit unique associations with developmental changes in the hypothesized brain changes. These results underscore the significance of carefully defining adversity and considering its impact on the entire brain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Body Image and Other Mood Vulnerabilities in Adolescents with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Metabolic Alterations.

Psychological vulnerability is a relevant component of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), but it is still under-explored, especially during adolescence. The aim of this study was to describe a selection of psychometric characteristics in a clinical sample of Italian adolescents with PCOS. Moreover, we reported the associations of body image, eating attitudes, and mood with metabolic features. Our sample included 128 adolescent girls (age range: 14-19 years) with PCOS. Validated psychometric questionnaires were administered: State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Body Attitude Test (BAT), Bulimia Investigation Test (BITE), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Anxiety was the most prevalent mood disorder (63.1% trait anxiety and 57% state anxiety). Our cohort also showed a high prevalence of depression (39.1%), body image dissatisfaction (49.2%), disordered eating (11.7%), and bulimic risk (41.4%). PCOS adolescents with obesity and insulin resistance (IR) had statistically significant higher body image distress compared to those with normal weight and without IR (p < 0.001). The Sobel test for mediation showed that body image dissatisfaction mediates the relationship between state anxiety and bulimic risk (Z = 3.42, p < 0.001) and between depression and bulimic risk (Z = 4.59, p < 0.001). A considerable number of patients with PCOS experience psychological disorders during adolescence. IR and obesity play a role in the distress associated with body image, further contributing to psychological vulnerability, especially in the bulimic domain. A comprehensive biopsychosocial approach in adolescents with PCOS represents the basis for effectively managing and preventing complications arising from both psychological and biological disorders in adulthood.

Peer sexual harassment, appearance esteem, and emotional problems: Testing a mediation model across early adolescence.

This study used a longitudinal sample of early adolescent boys and girls (ages 10-12; N = 1113) to test a theoretically and empirically informed model suggesting that exposure to peer sexual harassment (age 10) predicts more emotional problems (age 12), and that lower appearance esteem (age 11) mediates this relation. On the within-person level, which is the level on which the processes theoretically should play out, we found no support for the proposed mediation model for boys or for girls. Unexpectedly, we found that following times of more exposure to peer sexual harassment than usual, early adolescents instead experienced higher appearance esteem and fewer emotional problems than usual. More research is needed to replicate and understand these unexpected findings.

Effect of nutrition education on dietary diversity and academic achievement among adolescent school girls in North Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

ObjectivesGlobally, adolescent students, particularly girls, are severely affected by malnutrition, in part because of their specific biological needs, and that they have not been considered a health and nutrition priority. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of a health belief model–based nutrition education on the dietary diversity and grades of adolescent school girls in the north Shewa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. MethodsA quasi-experimental study was done in the north Shewa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Adolescent school girls ages 10 to 19 y old were selected from the zone districts from February 1 to May 30, 2023. The main outcome variables included grades and dietary diversity, which were collected on the baseline and end line from the intervention and control groups. ResultsThis study revealed that there were statistically significant differences in good nutritional knowledge, 88.1% versus 69.2% (χ2 = 16.835, P < 0.001), good dietary diversity; 77.4% versus 45.9% (χ2 = 33.247, P < 0.001) and grades above average, 90.6% versus 65.4% (χ2 = 29, P < 0.001) among school adolescent girls between the intervention and control groups, respectively. Regarding positive attitude, 84.3% versus 85.5% (χ2 = 0.098, P = 0.876), there was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups. ConclusionsIn this study, the dietary diversity scores and grades of adolescent school girls in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group. Therefore, health belief model-based strategies should be recommended as effective communication channels to improve adolescent school girls' dietary diversity and academic performance.

Mothers` Attitudes on the Influence of Social Media on Parenting Styles of Adolescent Girls in Tanga Municipality, Tanzania

This study aimed to assess the influence of mother’s attitude on social media towards parenting styles of adolescent girls. The study employed a mixed methods research approach with convergent parallel design. Questionnaires, interview, and documentary review were prominent methods used in data collection. 104 respondents were recruited to collect data which deem suitable for the study. The obtained data analysed by using free QDA Miner and SPSS for non- numerical and numerical data respectively. The findings show that mothers have either positive or negative attitude on social media use of adolescent girls. The positive mother’s attitude is influenced by such factors as screening time, learning and communication purpose. While negative mother’s attitude is influenced by factors as early sexual relationship and age of adolescent girls. Finally, the researcher recommended that adolescent should be emphasized on the positive use of social media to increase their performance in the educational carrier

Influence of intermittent iron and folic acid supplementation on cognitive abilities among adolescent girls in northwestern Tanzania.

Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation to reduce anemia is key for improving substantial lost disability adjusted life years (DALYs) for adolescent girls. This study assessed the impact of weekly IFA supplementation (WIFAS) on cognitive ability among adolescent girls in the Simiyu Region in northernwestern Tanzania. This cross-sectional comparative evaluation study of 770 adolescent girls (396 -WIFAS supplemented; 374 -not supplemented) evaluated the association between WIFAS and cognitive ability through a face-to-face survey and cognitive ability assessment using standardized tests (Span-forward Test, Span-backward Test and Maze Test). Using a modified Poisson regression, we controlled for the geographic setting (urban vs rural), availability of potable water and feeding programs in schools, age and school level of adolescent girls, parental status, main parental economic activities, and the number of teachers. Participants were between the ages of 11 and 19 years, with more than half (57%) between 12-15 years of age. Those with WIFAS had higher cognitive ability (Span-forward scores, χ2 = 46.34% p <0.001; Span-forward, χ2 = 46.34% p <0.001; and Global Composite Cognitive Performance (GCCP), χ2 = 32.52% p<0.001). Among the IFA supplemented adolescent girls, secondary school level had a significantly higher score with respect to Span-backward (aPR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.06-1.62); Span-forward ability (aPR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.04-1.53) and Maze Test ability (aPR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.01-1.25) as compared to their counterpart in primary school level. Individual adolescent girls with WIFAS and living with both parents performed much better on the Span-backward Test (aPR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.07-1.68) as compared to those living with relatives and/or orphans. The presence of potable water program among the WIFAS schools resulted in a higher Span-backward ability (aPR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.03-1.89); and GCCP (aPR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.03-1.75). Adolescent girls from WIFAS schools with feeding program had higher Span-forward (aPR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.03-1.63) ability as well as a higher Maze Test (aPR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.07-1.26) score. The present study provides compelling evidence that WIFAS is positively associated with higher cognitive ability among adolescent girls. Nevertheless, IFA interventions are still rare in communities across Tanzania.

Influence of engaging female caregivers in households with adolescent girls on adopting equitable family eating practices: a quasi-experimental study.

In patriarchal societies, female caregivers decide on food allocation within a family based on prevailing gender and age norms, which may lead to inequality that does not favor young adolescent girls. This study evaluated the effect of a community-based social norm intervention involving female caregivers in West Hararghe, Ethiopia. The intervention was engaging female caregivers along with other adult influential community members to deliberate and act on food allocation social norms in a process referred to as Social Analysis and Action (SAA). We used data from a large quasi-experimental study to compare family eating practices between those who participated in the Social Analyses and Action intervention and those who did not. The respondents were female caregivers in households with young adolescent girls (ages 13 and 14 years). The study's outcome was the practice of family eating together from the same dish. The difference in difference (DID) analysis with the mixed effect logistic regression model was used to examine the effect of the intervention. The results showed improved family eating practices in both groups, but the improvement was greater in the intervention group. The DID analysis showed an 11.99 percentage points greater improvement in the intervention arm than in the control arm. The mixed-effect regression produced an adjusted odds ratio of 2.08 (95% CI [1.06-4.09]) after controlling selected covariates, p-value 0.033. The involvement of influential adult community members significantly improves the family practice of eating together in households where adolescent girls are present in our study. The intervention has great potential to minimize household food allocation inequalities and thus improve the nutritional status of young adolescents. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in different social norm contexts to formulate policy and guidelines for scale-up.

Measuring social norms of intimate partner violence to exert control over wife agency, sexuality, and reproductive autonomy: an item response modelling of the IPV-ASRA scale

BackgroundThe field of violence prevention research is unequivocal that interventions must target contextual factors, like social norms, to reduce gender-based violence. Limited research, however, on the social norms contributing to intimate partner violence or reproductive coercion exists. One of the driving factors is lack of measurement tools to accurately assess social norms.MethodsUsing an item response modelling approach, this study psychometrically assesses the reliability and validity of a social norms measure of the acceptability of intimate partner violence to exert control over wife agency, sexuality, and reproductive autonomy with data from a population-based sample of married adolescent girls (ages 13–18) and their husbands in rural Niger (n = 559 husband-wife dyads) collected in 2019.ResultsA two-dimensional Partial Credit Model for polytomous items was fit, showing evidence of reliability and validity. Higher scores on the “challenging husband authority” dimension were statistically associated with husband perpetration of intimate partner violence.ConclusionsThis brief scale is a short (5 items), practical measure with strong reliability and validity evidence. This scale can help identify populations with high-need for social norms-focused IPV prevention and to help measure the impact of such efforts.

Effects of the reaching married adolescents program on modern contraceptive use and intimate partner violence: results of a cluster randomized controlled trial among married adolescent girls and their husbands in Dosso, Niger

BackgroundNiger has the highest rate of adolescent fertility in the world, with early marriage, early childbearing and high gender inequity. This study assesses the impact of Reaching Married Adolescents (RMA), a gender-synchronized social behavioral intervention designed to improve modern contraceptive use and reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) among married adolescent couples in rural Niger.MethodsWe conducted a four-armed cluster-randomized trial in 48 villages across three districts in Dosso region, Niger. Married adolescent girls (ages 13–19) and their husbands were recruited within selected villages. Intervention arms included home visits by gender-matched community health workers (CHWs) (Arm 1), gender-segregated, group discussion sessions (Arm 2), and both approaches (Arm 3). We used multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression models to assess intervention effects for our primary outcome, current modern contraceptive use, and our secondary outcome, past year IPV.ResultsBaseline and 24-month follow-up data were collected April–June 2016 and April–June 2018. At baseline, 1072 adolescent wives were interviewed (88% participation), with 90% retention at follow-up; 1080 husbands were interviewed (88% participation), with 72% retention at follow-up. Adolescent wives had higher likelihood of modern contraceptive use at follow-up relative to controls in Arm 1 (aIRR 3.65, 95% CI 1.41–8.78) and Arm 3 (aIRR 2.99, 95% CI 1.68–5.32); no Arm 2 effects were observed. Relative to those in the control arm, Arm 2 and Arm 3 participants were significantly less likely to report past year IPV (aIRR 0.40, 95% CI 0.18–0.88 for Arm 2; aIRR 0.46, 95% CI 0.21–1.01 for Arm 3). No Arm 1 effects were observed.ConclusionsThe RMA approach blending home visits by CHWs and gender-segregated group discussion sessions is the optimal format for increasing modern contraceptive use and decreasing IPV among married adolescents in Niger.Trial registration This trial is retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier NCT03226730

Assessment of Adiposity And Proportional Weight of Coastal Area Adolescent Girls

The purpose of this study was to estimate the actual adiposity of the adolescent girls by using anthropometric measurements. For this, four hundred (400) adolescent girls age ranging from 11 through 15 years from twenty (20) schools of Bhagwanpur – II Block of Purba Medinipur district, a coastal area of the south Bengal. To assess the O-Scale adiposity the skin fold measurements consist of triceps, sub-scapular, supra iliac, abdominal, thigh and calf sites according to ISAK International Standards for Anthropometric Assessment (2011) using the CESCORF Innovare-3 Skin fold Calliper. Collected skin fold thickness in mm was used to assess the %-Fat, total fat in kg and O-scale adiposity by using standard equations. Again the O-scale adiposity was converted into stanine scores from percentile norms. Analysing the collected date it was found that the OScale adiposity is increased according to age except at the age of 12 years as the subjects entered in to menarche resulting in routine blood loss.

Leveraging health infrastructure to optimize HPV vaccination for adolescents in Zambia: Protocol for an implementation study.

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Zambia, where HIV prevalence is also high (11.3%). HIV heightens the risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can prevent 90% of cervical cancers, and in Zambia is recommended for adolescent girls ages 14-15 years, including those with HIV. Currently they mainly deliver HPV vaccination via school-based campaigns, which may exclude the most vulnerable adolescents-those out-of-school or who irregularly attend. Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are more likely to have these vulnerabilities. Further, school-based campaigns are not tailored to the WHO-recommended HPV vaccination schedule for ALHIV (3 versus 2 doses). Integrating HPV vaccination into routine care in adolescent HIV clinics may ensure that ALHIV have access to vaccine at the WHO-recommended schedule. Such integration requires a multilevel approach, stakeholder engagement, and diversified implementation strategies, given known challenges of providing the HPV vaccine in LMICs, including Zambia. Our study aims to integrate HPV vaccination into routine care in adolescent HIV clinics. To achieve success, we will co-design a package of implementation strategies using a previously successful implementation research approach developed for cervical cancer prevention in LMICs: the Integrative Systems Praxis for Implementation Research (INSPIRE). INSPIRE is a novel, comprehensive approach to develop, implement, and evaluate implementation science efforts. Following key elements of INSPIRE, our specific aims are to: 1) Identify the unique multilevel contextual factors (barriers and facilitators) across HIV settings (rural, urban, peri-urban) that influence HPV vaccine uptake; 2) Use Implementation Mapping to translate stakeholder feedback and findings from Aim 1 into a package of implementation strategies to integrate HPV vaccine into HIV clinics; 3) Conduct a Hybrid Type 3 effectiveness-implementation trial to evaluate the package of multilevel implementation strategies for integrating HPV vaccine into HIV clinics. Our research team has strong support, technical expertise, and resources (e.g., vaccines) from the Zambian Ministry of Health; and political will for scale-up. This stakeholder-based implementation model has the potential to be transported to HIV clinics across Zambia and serve as a model to address cancer prevention priorities for those with HIV in other LMICs. To be registered prior to Aim 3, when implementation strategies finalized.

Patterns of and Factors Associated With Mental Health Service Utilization Among School-Going Adolescent Girls in Southwestern Uganda: A Latent Class Analysis

PurposeThe study aimed to improve understanding of patterns of multiple family group intervention engagement and associated factors among adolescent girls in a low-resource country, Uganda. MethodsThe data used in this analysis were part of a larger cluster randomized controlled trial consisting of 1260 adolescent girls across 47 public secondary schools. The sample in the current study consisted of 317 adolescent girls (ages 14–17 at enrollment) recruited from senior one and senior two classes across 12 secondary schools in the southwestern region of Uganda. Participants in this study participated in the multiple family group intervention—a 16-week manualized intervention. Attendance data from 16 sessions were used to identify the heterogeneity of intervention engagement using latent class analysis modeling. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between predisposing, enabling, need factors, and mental health utilization patterns. ResultsOn average, participants attended 10 sessions (standard deviation = 5.90), 34.38% (N = 109) completed all 16 sessions, and 13.56% (N = 43) did not attend any of the sessions. Two attendance groups were identified: low and high attendants using latent class analysis. In addition, two family-level factors, the number of adults and the number of children in the family, were associated with an increase in the utilization of mental health services. DiscussionFindings suggest that enhancing family support systems may be useful in promoting mental health utilization among adolescent girls with the potential to improve self-esteem, reduce feelings of inadequacy, and ultimately achieve better mental health outcomes.

Sexuality of adolescent girls born with HIV in Senegal: an anthropological analysis.

In Senegal, the dominant social norm upholds virginity before marriage and edifies abstinence for adolescents as a cardinal moral value. Currently, sex outside of marriage remains socially condemned. The onset of sex for adolescent girls born with HIV in Senegal brings up several challenges. In Dakar, initiatives, especially through digital applications, are being developed to support these young people. These programs are much rarer in rural settings. A study conducted in 2021 explored how adolescent girls born with HIV who live outside of Dakar experience sexuality, what socio-health constraints they face, and what support they receive from the healthcare system. An anthropological study titled 'Treatment Failure among Children and Adolescents Living with HIV in Senegal, Outside Dakar' (ETEA-VIH, ANRS 12421) was conducted in 2021 in 14 regional hospitals and health centers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 87 HIV-positive children and adolescents, 95 parents/guardians, and 47 health care workers. Adolescent girls' onset of sexuality was specifically analyzed for 40 adolescent girls age 12-19 years old. Generally, parents feign oblivion about their children's sexual lives. Mothers dread a pregnancy out of marriage because they are responsible for overseeing sex education and would be 'blamed' for the transgression. The occurrence of an unintended pregnancy can lead to exclusion from the family and a risk of transmitting HIV to the child due to the lack of medical and social support. HIV remains a stigmatizing disease that families keep secret. The risk of disclosure is a major concern. Despite sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programs, most healthcare workers are reluctant to discuss sexuality or to offer contraception to adolescent girls. Information spaces have been set up in some regional hospitals by associations trained in SRH. They are rarer in health centers. Accessibility to digital applications and discussion forums is limited due to the lack of smartphones and Internet access. In rural settings, HIV-positive adolescent girls are confronted with the silence that surrounds sexuality and HIV. An individualized approach and confidential access to contraception should be prioritized to support them with assistance from PLHIV associations.

Peningkatan Pengetahuan tentang Anemia dan Tablet Tambah Darah pada Remaja Putri di RT 01 RW 09 Kelurahan Kelapa Dua Wetan Ciracas

Adolescent girls who have menstruated will experience in their body changes. One of them is weakness during menstruation and even dizziness. Possibly this is caused by the amount of blood that comes out during menstruation, while the intake of nutrients containing iron and folic acid is less. The purpose of this community service is to provide education to increase the knowledge about anemia and iron-folic acid supplements by adolescent girls in RT 01 RW 09, Kelapa Dua Wetan, Ciracas, East Jakarta. Health education about Anemia and iron-folic acid supplements to adolescent girls was used as a method. The activities were carried out face-to-face at the house of one of the cadres and attended by 14 adolescent girls. The average age of adolescent girls was 15.29±2.23 years with a minimum age 11 years and a maximum age 19 years. Meanwhile, the results of the knowledge of adolescent girls was 93.88% at pre test and 93.41% at post test with a reduction of 1 participant at post test. Therefore, it can be concluded that adolescent girls had very good knowledge about anemia and iron-folic acid supplement. This program required to be continued to maintain the health status of adolescent girls.

Adolescent girls' cardiovascular responses to peer rejection: exploring the impact of early life stress.

Detrimental effects of early life stress on cardiovascular health are evident in adolescence. Cardiovascular reactivity and recovery in response to interpersonal stress may be a mechanism. This study aimed to evaluate if adolescent girls with higher early life stress demonstrated greater cardiovascular reactivity and slower recovery to peer rejection. A sample of 92 adolescent girls (age: M = 13.24) self-reported early life stressors. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were continuously measured before, during, and after a laboratory peer rejection paradigm. Counter to hypotheses, adolescent girls with higher early life stress had lower, not higher, HR during the recovery period. Early life stress was not associated with SBP or DBP recovery. Additionally, early life stress was not associated with SBP, DBP, or HR reactivity. Future research is needed to assess if blunted cardiovascular reactivity to interpersonal rejection during adolescence is a mechanism linking early life stress and later cardiovascular disease risk in women.

RF10 | PMON242 Free Testosterone is an Independent Predictor of Metabolic Syndrome Severity in U.S. Adolescent Girls Ages 12-19, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2016

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) affects ∼10% of U.S. adolescents, especially those with obesity. Adolescent obesity is associated with adolescent hyperandrogenemia (HA), while adult HA is associated with increased risk of MetS in both asymptomatic women and women with polycystic ovary syndrome (Torchen et al, Obesity [Silver Spring] 2020). Yet, the relationship between HA and severity of MetS during adolescence remains unclear. We investigated whether free testosterone (T) concentrations independently predict MetS severity in adolescent girls. Methods We performed a weighted analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 2013–2016, utilizing a cross-sectional study design. In particular, we analyzed data from a nationally-representative sample of 230 girls aged 12-19 years. We performed regression analysis to evaluate whether free T (independent variable) predicted MetS Severity Z-score (outcome). In a multiple regression model, we adjusted for total percent body fat, age (months), and menarche status (premenarcheal vs. postmenarcheal). Free T was calculated (Vermuelen equation) from total T and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). MetS severity was determined by a calculator validated for children (Gurka et al, Metabolic Syndrome Severity Calculator, doi: 10.5281/zeondo.2542213; Gurka et al, Cardiovascular Diabetology 2012) using reported fasting labs and anthropometric parameters. As secondary analyses, we (1) repeated the above analysis substituting SHBG for free T in the primary cohort, and (2) repeated the above analysis substituting total T for tree T in an expanded cohort (n=251). Results In the primary cohort, MetS z-score was -0.27 (-0.41 to -0.13) [mean (95% CI)]; free T 4.0 pg/ml (3.7–4.3); total T 28.7 ng/dL (27.1–30.3); SHBG 60.8 nmol/L (54.0–67.6); total percent body fat 34.5% (33.3–35.6). In simple regression analyses, free T (R=0.11) and percent body fat (R=0.57) each predicted MetS z-score (p&amp;lt;0.001 for each), but age (p=0.68) and menarche status (p=0.18) did not. Our adjusted regression model accounted for 60% of the variance in MetS z-score (R2=0.60). Higher free T and percent body fat were independently associated with higher MetS z-score, while younger age was independently associated with higher MetS z-score (p&amp;lt;0.001 for each). When substituting SHBG and total T for free T, model R2 values were 0.61 and 0.59, respectively, with only percent body fat and age being significant independent predictors of MetS z-score in each model (SHBG, p=0.06; total T, p=0.90). Conclusion We conclude that free T is an independent predictor of MetS severity in a nationally-representative sample of adolescent girls aged 12 to 19 years. Total T was not an independent predictor of MetS severity, suggesting that the relationship between free T and MetS z-score may partly reflect obesity-associated reductions in SHBG levels. These data suggest that HA may contribute to MetS severity in adolescent girls. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:06 p.m. - 1:11 p.m., Monday, June 13, 2022 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Awareness and practices about menstruation among adolescent girls

Introduction: Menstruation is still a taboo in India and it is common for people across society to feel uncomfortable about the subject. It is a normal physiological process. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess awareness and hygiene practices amongst adolescent girls and to study the menarche age of respondents in comparison to their mother's age at menarche. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational and prospective study was carried out in two private high schools of Mehsana city, Gujarat. Data were collected in a form of a structured questionnaire. Adolescent girls from 10 to 19 years were enrolled in the study. Ethical approval was obtained before initiating data collection. IBM SPSS version 2.0 was used for the analysis of the data. Results: Out of a total of 454 screened, 398 adolescents were enrolled in the study with an 87.76% response rate. The mean menarche age of adolescent girls was 13.33 ± 1.18 years. Mothers 316 (78.4%) were the first source of information. Majority of study respondents (68.5%) rated menstruation as a part of the physiologic process caused by hormonal changes. About 18.6% knew the uterus as a source of bleeding. About 59.8% of adolescent girls were scared and discomforted at their menarche. Most (93.5%) were using sanitary pads as absorbent material. Half of the respondents were using water to clean their genitals. Nearly half of the respondents felt hesitation for discussing their menstrual-related problems with others. The mean menarche age of the participants was 13.33 ± 1.18 years with a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 18 years, while their mother's age at menarche was 14.58 ± 1.27 years. Conclusion: Menstrual hygiene education must be provided to adolescent girls. Need to solve taboos and misconception amongst adolescent girls of India.

Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Iranian Adolescent Girls Based on Adults and Adolescents' Diagnostic Criteria in Mashhad City.

PCOS is a common endocrine disorder of reproductive age with high morbidity that its prevalence ranging from 5.6% to 26%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of PCOS in Iranian adolescent girls aged 14-19 years based on adults and adolescents' criteria. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 650 high school adolescent girls in Mashhad city, north-east of Iran. PCOS was defined as the presence of three or two of the three features including oligo/amenorrhea, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and t-test were used to analyze the data through SPSS vs 22 (SPSS Inc., USA) and the significance level was set at p≤0.05. The mean age of adolescent girls was 16.73±3.4 years. The prevalence of PCOS using Rotterdam, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Androgen Excess-PCOS Society (AES), European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)/American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) (2012), and Endocrine Society Clinical Practice (2013) criteria was 4.2%, 3.6%, 3.6%, 0.7%, and 3.6%, respectively. The rate for prevalence of PCOS calculated based on Rotterdam, NIH, AES, and Endocrine Society (2013) criteria was higher in comparison to ESHRE/ASRM (2012) criteria. According to the results of our study, in order to prevent overestimation of this syndrome's prevalence in the adolescents due to its overlap with signs of pubertal development, all above-mentioned three criteria should be considered together, which is in line with the recommendations proposed by Carmina et al. and ESHRE/ASRM working group.