Girls Attending Research Articles

The Impact of a Healthy Lifestyle on Psychological Well-Being Among Saudi Adolescent Girls Attending Secondary Schools in Taif City, Saudi Arabia.

Background and objective A healthy lifestyle encompasses healthy eating, regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and avoiding smoking, drug abuse, and alcohol, which will helpimprove mental health and manage the symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between a healthy lifestyle and psychological well-being among Saudi adolescent girls. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent girls in secondary schools in Taif City, Saudi Arabia. The main outcome measures were the Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire (SLIQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and PHQ-9 (if PHQ-2-positive), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) questionnaire, and Perceived Stress Scale(PSS) scores. Results The age of the respondents ranged between 15 and 19 years with an arithmetic mean of 16.72 and a standard deviation (SD) of 0.96 years. Most of the students (58.3%) followed a healthy lifestyle whereas only 6.7% followed an unhealthy one. The prevalence of depression was 52.5%; moderately severe depression was observed in14.8% and severe depression was seen in6.9% of the schoolgirls. Moderate or severe anxiety was observed in 24.3% and 17.8% of schoolgirls, respectively. High perceived stress was observed in 18% of the students. There was a statistically significant associationbetween students' lifestyleand the severity of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress (p<0.001). Conclusion While unhealthy lifestyles are not common among secondary schoolgirls in Taif City, we found a significant association between such lifestyles among students and the deterioration of their psychological well-being.

Household basic amenities and female educational outcome: An exploration of complementarities in rural India

While the disparities between women and men in respect of healthcare, education, nutrition, livelihood opportunities, and political participation are global phenomena, development of human and social capitals is crucial in this regard. In particular, emphasis on improvement in female education is imperative for bridging such gaps towards a gender indifferent society. Accordingly, policy initiatives and institutional arrangements have been made to promote female education, especially in the developing and underdeveloped countries. Nonetheless, it is uncertain whether such initiatives can necessarily improve female education. For example, the initiatives in India have mostly focused on improving physical infrastructure and other amenities in schools, raising awareness, improving nutrition, and providing financial and other supports. While such interventions are crucial, lack of basic amenities at home can also potentially hinder female education in various ways, particularly in rural areas. This paper examines how household basic amenities influence female education in rural India. Based on secondary data and applying panel data estimation techniques for Indian states, it is found that sanitation facilities at home, access to electricity, use of cleaner cooking fuels, time taken to collect water, and girl sex ratio have significant impact on school attendance of girl child and female literacy rate. While time take to collect water affects female education adversely, the rests have positive impact on the same. Furthermore, public spending on education also impacts female literacy and female literacy relative to the male literacy rate positively, though they do not have any significant influence on school attendance of girls. Further, poverty does not have any significant impact on female education. The findings, therefore, suggest that success of development policies requires inclusive and comprehensive approach to explore the complementarity across the interventions. In addition to development of school infrastructure and provision of other services, emphasis should also be given on improving household basic amenities for better outcome on female education.

Vaccine Hesitancy Drives Low Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Coverage in Girls Attending Public Schools in South Africa.

Girls aged ≥9 years attending South African public sector schools are provided with free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, through a schools-based programme. HPV vaccine misinformation spread via social media in 2014, was identified as a barrier to obtaining parental informed consent in some districts, including Sedibeng District, which subsequently had the lowest HPV vaccination coverage in Gauteng Province in 2018. This study investigated vaccine hesitancy in caregivers of girls in Grade 4 to 7 aged ≥9 years attending public schools in Sedibeng District. A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among caregivers of age-eligible girls attending all public schools in Sedibeng District with first dose HPV vaccination coverage of <70%. The questionnaire included demographics; HPV vaccination status of girls; reasons for not being vaccinated; and a 5-item tool measuring the determinants of vaccine hesitancy (5C scale), using a 7-point Likert scale. Data were coded and captured on Microsoft Excel®. Except for collective responsibility which was reverse scored, the other 5C items (confidence, complacency, constraints, and calculation) were captured as follows: 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = moderately disagree, 3 = slightly disagree, 4 = neutral, 5 = slightly agree, 6 = moderately agree and 7 = strongly agree. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted using Epi InfoTM. Of the principals of all schools with <70% HPV vaccination coverage, 69.6% (32/46) gave permission. The response rate from caregivers of girls present on the day of data collection was 36.8% (1,782/4,838), with 67.1% (1,196/1,782) of respondents reporting that their daughters had received ≥1 dose of HPV vaccine. Only 63.1% (370/586) of respondents with unvaccinated daughters answered the question on reasons, with 49.2% (182/370) reporting reasons related to vaccine hesitancy. Statistically significant differences between caregivers of vaccinated and unvaccinated daughters were identified for four of the five determinants of vaccine hesitancy: confidence (vaccinated group higher), complacency (unvaccinated group higher), constraints (unvaccinated group higher) and collective responsibility (vaccinated group higher). This is the first South African study to (a) report results of the 5C scale, which was found to be very useful for predicting vaccination uptake; and (b) confirm that the relatively low HPV vaccination coverage in Sedibeng District is largely driven by reasons related to vaccine hesitancy.

Undernutrition and Associated Factors Among School Adolescent Girls Attending Schools in Mirab-Armachiho District, Northwest Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Substantial proportions of adolescent girls are suffering from undernutrition; despite they are considered as future mothers. Undernourished mothers are more likely to give birth to an offspring with impaired growth and development. Hence, investigating adolescents’ undernutrition had a pivotal role to tackle the problem. Therefore, this study aimed to assess undernutrition and associated factors among adolescent girls in Mirabarmacho district, Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 20, 2018, in the Mirab Armachiho district, using the multistage cluster sampling method. A total of 706 adolescent girls was included in the study. The World Health Organization Anthro Plus software was used to calculate nutritional indices. A Binary Logistic Regression Analysis was used to check the effect of independent variables with adolescent wasting and stunting. The overall prevalence of wasting and stunting was 17.3% (95%CI: 14.6–20.1) and 10.3% (95%CI: 8.2–12.7), respectively. Being in the 10–14 years age group (AOR:2.47,95%CI:1.21–5.06), inadequate Dietary Diversity (Dietary Diversity Score) (AOR:2.46,95%CI:1.45–4.20),food-insecure households (Adjusted Odd Ratio:2.62,95%CI:1.33–5.16),middle wealth index(Adjusted Odd Ratio:1.94,95%CI:1.07–3.51), febrile illness (Adjusted Odd Ratio: 3.12,95%CI:1.94–5.03), diarrheal disease (AOR:3.61,95%CI:2.08–6.28), merchant fathers (Adjusted Odd Ratio:0.40, 95%CI:0.20–0.82),and government employee fathers (Adjusted Odd Ratio:0.27,95%CI:0.09–0.84) were factors significantly associated with thinness, while inadequate Dietary Diversity Score (Adjusted Odd Ratio: 8.07, 95%CI; 4.02–16.20) and febrile illness (Adjusted Odd Ratio; 2.49, 95%CI: 1.48–4.18) were factors relating to the adolescent stunting. Adolescent wasting and stunting are predominant problems in the survey region. Strengthening efforts to ensure household food security, diversified food intake, and prevention and control of infectious diseases are recommended to mitigate adolescent’s undernutrition.

Free and Compulsory Primary Education in Tanzania: Challenges to A girl Child in Rural Areas

This paper aimed to assess the challenges that are faced by a girl child in rural Tanzania, for the government’s attention of both access and quality primary education to be achieved. The study dealt with the assessment of all kinds of challenges that hinder girl children from participating in primary education, dropping out from school and those challenges that make them perform lower than boys in academics. The study adopted qualitative multiple case-study approach with multiple instruments of data collection ( interview, non-participatory observation, and document analysis) for the study to deeply collect data on the participation of girl child in primary education for rural areas in Tanzania. The study found that intimidations of some parents to girl children are intentionally used so that they cannot pass their final primary education examination in rural areas so that they can get married and be source of money. Maid business from rural to town was also shown as the factor affecting most of the girls in rural areas, Girl children being overworked and inadequate number of female teachers were revealed as source of low attendance of girls to school Key words : Education, Free Education, Compulsory education, Girl child, rural areas DOI : 10.7176/RHSS/9-6-07 Publication date :March 31 st 2019

Fisheries around Lake Victoria and Attendance of Girls in Secondary Schools of Nyangoma Division in Siaya County, Kenya

Fisheries around Lake Victoria and Attendance of Girls in Secondary Schools of Nyangoma Division in Siaya County, Kenya

Fisheries around Lake Victoria and Attendance of Girls in Secondary Schools of Nyangoma Division in Siaya County, Kenya

Fisheries around Lake Victoria and Attendance of Girls in Secondary Schools of Nyangoma Division in Siaya County, Kenya

Study on Stipend Program and Girls’ Education in Public Schools of Sindh

Women empowerment through education process is the key element for the national development by providing basic resources &amp; facilities. Every country has taken systemic initiatives for the development of girls’ education at all levels, to empower women, Pakistan has also started number of motivational steps for girls’ education especially in Sindh. Consequently government of Sindh has taken numerous initiatives to promote girls’ education, in this connection girls’ stipend program started was from 2001 for girls’ students studying from VI to X level in public schools of Sindh. Keeping in view, the primary purpose of this study was to know the effectiveness of girls’ stipend program in public schools of Sindh on the enrollment , attendance of girls , encouragement of parents’ motivational &amp; interest level of parents’ towards continuity of education process as per the perception of head teachers . Current study was descriptive in nature and quantitative by method. Population of this study was all head teachers of elementary, middle and secondary schools of Sindh. Targeted population of this study was all head teachers of elementary, middle and secondary schools of district Shaheed Benazir Abad. Seventy percent head teachers of elementary, middle and secondary schools was selected by convenient random sampling from the targeted population of the study. Questionnaire with five points Likert scale was developed for exploring the perception of head teachers’ about effectiveness of girls’ stipend program. Data was analyzed by the help of percentage. Findings of this study identified that girls’ stipend program proved as motivational factor for the enrolment, attendance, continuity and encouragement of parents and for girls who were studying in 6th to10th classes in public schools.

Comparing the Effects of Eight-Week Corrective Selective Exercises on Kyphosis Abnormality Prior to and Following Puberty among the Girls Attending High Schools in Boroojerd, Lorestan

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of eight weeks selected corrective exercise on kyphosis deformity before and after puberty in girls is Boroojerd city. According to the study, pre-test and post-test experimental and control groups, and independent and dependent variable is the type of quasi-experimental research survey of all elementary and secondary school students will form Boroojerd city. Using cluster sampling - a random number 1200 from 7 schools (450 schools, 750 elementary students) with the use of raster lines were evaluated plummet a total of 44 patients (24 person puberty prepubescent and 20 person after maturity) with kyphosis deformity, were selected as research subjects after obtaining informed consent and completed questionnaires, their kyphosis using flexible ruler and balance range to be measured by the stork balance test Then the four groups, 24 person before maturity (12 person group control and 12 group experimental), 20 person after maturity(10 person group control, 10 person group experimental) were classified then subjects experimental group eight weeks, 3 sessions a week, each session 30-45 minutes the program of corrective exercises (stretching and strengthening) were after completion of training, all subjects (control groups and Experimental before and after puberty) the tests were And test results independent T-test and dependent t- test the analysis. The result showed That There was no signification difference between 8 weeks corrective training on kyphosis deformity (p=0.12) pre-and post-pubertal girls students. But the practice effect on the improvement of kyphosis ago (p = 0.02) and after puberty (0.03) girls students had a significant impact.

The Role of Social Marketing in Creating Obesity Awareness and Its Effects on Life Quality

Marketing is the process of developing, pricing, promoting, and placing products, services, and ideas. The aim of social marketing is to inform the society and affect behavioural differences in individuals by using the mentioned marketing processes. In social marketing, the marketing concepts of profit and value mean the acceptance of a desired behaviour by the society. Social marketing can be used in many different areas such as promoting sportive activities, promoting life belt use, preventing violence against women, promoting school attendance of girls, and etc. Health sector is one of the areas in which social marketing is frequently used. Since obesity is becoming a major problem effecting both health and life quality, we can witness numerous social marketing campaigns developed for preventing obesity. In this research, the role of social marketing in creating obesity awareness and its effect to life quality of individuals is studied. Population consists of 289 people above the age of 18 who are selected by random sampling method. A public survey is used as data collecting method and factor analysis and reliability analysis are performed for the acquired data by using the SPSS package program. Moreover, the model structured for the study is tested through a LISREL structural equation modelling.

Negative Peer Status and Relational Victimization in Children and Adolescents: The Role of Stress Physiology

The purpose of the current investigation was to determine the unique associations between two subtypes of low peer status, peer rejection and unpopularity, and changes in relational victimization over time. This study also investigated if these associations were moderated by sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) reactivity to peer stress. Sixty-one girls attending (Mage = 11.91 years, SD = 1.62; predominantly Caucasian) a residential summer camp were followed across 1 calendar year. Participants' skin conductance and respiratory sinus arrhythmia were assessed during a laboratory stress protocol. Peer rejection and unpopularity were measured using peer nomination techniques and counselors reported on relational victimization. Both unpopularity and rejection were associated with increased relational victimization over time among girls who exhibited reciprocal SNS activation (i.e., high SNS reactivity coupled with PNS withdrawal). Rejection was also associated with subsequent victimization among girls exhibiting reciprocal PNS activation (i.e., low SNS reactivity, PNS activation). Findings underscore the biosocial interactions between low peer status and physiological reactivity in the prediction of peer maltreatment over time.

A Phenomenological Study of Sexual Harassment and Violence Among Girls Attending High Schools in Urban Slums, Nairobi, Kenya

In 2003, 31% of young Kenyan women ages 15–24 reported sexual harassment and violence (SHV), with a majority experiencing sexual debut due to coercion (Central Bureau of Statistics, 2004). Data were obtained from a sample of 20 girls attending school in Kamu and Lafamu (pseudonyms used for the study sites), 10 girls who had dropped out of school, and 14 teachers, using structured interviews. A phenomenological approach was used to describe narratives of girls' experiences with SHV in and out of school. The findings indicated that girls experienced frequent SHV in and out of school despite the Sexual Offences Act enacted by the Kenyan Parliament in 2006 (Government of Kenya, 2006). Hence, stakeholders need to reengage and implement existing policies on sexual abuse among children and women.

Girl's schooling in war-torn Somalia

A civil war has raged in Somalia since 1991. The civil war was the final blow to an already collapsed education system. Somalia has received little research and policy attention yet children, especially girls, are very vulnerable during times of conflict. The different gender roles, activities, and status in society create gender differentiated risk and vulnerability during conflict; therefore, girls experience conflict differently from boys. This paper has two aims to (1) push Somalia back into the international development agenda and (2) highlight the state of girl's education in Somalia. The study examines 5969 households and presents the patterns of educational enrollment and attendance of girls in Somalia, and identifies the major challenges of expanding education access in Somalia.

Promoting Better Family Meals for Girls Attending Summer Programs

Promoting Better Family Meals for Girls Attending Summer Programs

Abstract B31: Collaborative breast health education addressing an alarming public health concern in the District of Columbia

Abstract B31 Background Washington D.C. has the highest breast cancer mortality rate in the country(30.3 per 100,000 )*. Project Early Awareness is a breast health education program of Howard University Cancer Center supported by the Prevent Cancer Foundation that serves to address this disparity. The program is designed for 10th-12th grade students in Washington, D.C.. Methods PEA sessions follow a standardized format. The class begins with a young breast cancer survivor’s story, followed by information on breast health topics including risk factors, breast growth and development, clinical breast exams, and mammography. The students are shown an age and culturally appropriate video on how to perform a breast self-exam. Students are then given breast models to practice breast self-exam techniques. The session ends with a question and answer period and a discussion on myths about breast cancer. At the completion of the program, they are handed an information packet to take home and share with their female relatives. Results Since 2001, 2,880 public high school students and their relatives have received breast health information through PEA. Pre and post-test evaluations have been enormously positive, showing a measurable impact in knowledge for the girls attending. Overall, the program generated improvements in specific knowledge elements. A 69% improvement was shown when asked if the age of menarche was a risk factor. The overall increase in self-efficacy for BSE was 39%. Conclusion The high breast cancer mortality rates of African American women living in the District of Columbia mandates the implementation of programs such as this, which focus on long term solutions towards reducing health disparities. PEA is able to reach these young women in a culturally sensitive manner and increase awareness, as well as the understanding of the key screening tools available to women as they age. *American Cancer Society, Surveillance Research , 2007 Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):B31.

Participation of asthmatic children in gymnastic lessons at school

Exercise is a predominant stimulus leading to bronchial obstruction in asthmatic children. Therefore physicians, teachers and parents still have a negative attitude towards physical exercise of asthmatic children in school. We investigated the attendance of girls and boys with asthma during sport-lessons at school. 254 teachers who give lessons in sports in 46 different schools (high school, primary and secondary school) in Hamburg were asked about their knowledge of the disease and how often and in which manner asthmatic children participated their sport-lessons. Teachers estimated that in each class (average: 25 - 30 children) approximately 1 asthmatic is present. 60 % of these asthmatics take part likewise their healthy peers. 40 % either take part only sometimes (12,6 %) or specific elements (25,2 %) or not at all (12,2 %). Most of the teachers assessed their knowledge about the disease as medium good. In contrast, only 4,7 % of them had a specific plan that allows asthmatics to participate sport-lessons without getting obstructive. Asthmatic children are underestimated in school and participate in only 60 % equally to their healthy peers at sport-lessons. The knowledge about this most frequent chronic disease in children could be increased. Better training of teacher-students and teachers is recommended.

Teilnahme von asthmakranken Kindern am Schulsport - Eine Erhebung an Hamburger Schulen -

Introduction: Exercise is a predominant stimulus leading to bronchial obstruction in asthmatic children. Therefore physicians, teachers and parents still have a negative attitude towards physical exercise of asthmatic children in school. We investigated the attendance of girls and boys with asthma during sport-lessons at school. Methods: 254 teachers who give lessons in sports in 46 different schools (high school, primary and secondary school) in Hamburg were asked about their knowledge of the disease and how often and in which manner asthmatic children participated their sport-lessons. Results: Teachers estimated that in each class (average: 25-30 children) approximately 1 asthmatic is present. 60% of these asthmatics take part likewise their healthy peers. 40% either take part only sometimes (12,6%) or specific elements (25,2%) or not at all (12,2%). Most of the teachers assessed their knowledge about the disease as medium good. In contrast, only 4,7 % of them had a specific plan that allows asthmatics to participate sport-lessons without getting obstructive. Conclusion: Asthmatic children are underestimated in school and participate in only 60% equally to their healthy peers at sport-lessons. The knowledge about this most frequent chronic disease in children could be increased. Better training of teacher-students and teachers is recommended.

Using a health concerns checklist as a bridge from reason for encounter to diagnosis of girls attending an adolescent health service.

We assessed the extent to which a health concerns checklist (HCC) helps bridge the gap between the reason for encounter (RFE) described by girls entering an adolescent health service and the ultimate diagnosis. The sample, 547 consecutive 12- to 18-year-old girls visiting an adolescent health service, first underwent a structured intake procedure, including a self-administered form on which they described their RFEs and other health concerns, as well as a psychosocial interview and medical evaluation performed by staff members. The RFEs, HCC items, and diagnoses, grouped into somatic, sexuality-related, and psychosocial categories, were then compared. Among the 399 girls expressing specific RFEs on entering the clinic, one-third were diagnosed with psychosocial disorders and one-fifth with sexuality-related concerns. Of the patients receiving a sexuality-related diagnosis, 57% presented with a sexuality-related request; another 26% noted it on the checklist. For those diagnosed with psychosocial problems, 22% stated this as the RFE, and another 50% indicated it on the HCC. The contribution of the HCC to the diagnosis was higher among adolescents not stating a specific RFE. The findings highlight the HCC's contribution in identifying health problems, especially among adolescents who find it difficult to verbalize sensitive issues.

Ghana: girls don't quit school by choice

LEBO MOLETSANE speaks to TAKYIWAA MANUH about gender and schooling in Ghana and the reasons for the low attendance of girls at school

Ghana: Girls Don't Quit School by Choice

LEBO MOLETSANE speaks to TAKYIWAA MANUH about gender and schooling in Ghana and the reasons for the low attendance of girls at school