School-going Adolescent Girls Research Articles

Burden of Musculoskeletal Pains and Injuries from Water-Carrying Among School-Going Adolescent Girls in Kinshasa’s Peri-Urban Settings, Democratic Republic of Congo

The peri-urban settings of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo are mostly characterized by uneven terrain and limited access to water. A cross-sectional epidemiological study of school-going adolescent girls identified public health risks associated with daily water carrying. Data were collected using a semi-structured paper questionnaire, whereas descriptive and regression analysis was performed using SPSS software. The study established that Head-load transportation of water was the most common mode for 92.3% of the interviewed adolescent girls. Compared to other modes, this mode was most likely to expose adolescent girls to musculoskeletal pains and injuries (p < 0.0001). Most adolescent girls interviewed (79.4%) crossed hilly and mountainous terrain. Some 59.4% of adolescent girls experienced falls, 38.6% and 17.4%, respectively, experienced injuries and strains associated with hilly terrain. Almost all the study participants reported pain (96.3%), with 73% reporting back and chest pains. Other reported problems included permanent muscular pain (59.5%), neck pain (55.6%), permanent headaches (50.6%), lower abdominal pain (23.1%), and prolonged painful menstruation (6.7%). Although these data are based on self-reported pain and injuries, their effects could negatively impact adolescent girls’ school attendance and performance. Evidence from this research first supports policies that provide home water supply systems. Such a supply system offers the advantage of relieving the burden of transporting heavy loads of water over long distances and mountainous terrains. Second, evidence demonstrates that the city of Kinshasa struggles to achieve the 6th SDG, which implies negative impacts on the 3rd and 4th SDGs related to health and equitable education for adolescent girls.

Effect of Dietary Habits and Physical Activities on Abnormal Menstrual Cycle Pattern Amongst School-going Adolescent Girls Residing in the Foothills of the Himalayas: An Age-matched Case–Control Study

Abstract Background: The menstrual cycle pattern in women is related to high variability in cycle length of 21–35 days, flow lasts 4–7 days with an average loss of 15–80 ml of blood. The abnormal menstrual pattern is influenced by several factors, including dietary habits, physical exercises, family history of obesity and anthropometric parameters. Objectives: This research was carried out to establish numerous risk elements that depict abnormal menstrual cycle patterns amongst school-going adolescent girls in urban areas of Rishikesh, India. Methods: An age-matched case–control research was implemented in schools in the urban areas of Rishikesh between May and December 2019. A simple random sampling technique was carried out to choose urban wards and schools, and data were assembled in two steps. Adolescent girls (10–19 years) studying in the government and private schools (both Hindi and English medium) of urban Rishikesh areas were included and screened for abnormal menstrual patterns. Equal numbers of age-matched controls were also selected. Data were assembled using a self-scrutinised pre-designed pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. The independent t-test, Mann–Whitney test, McNemar test, Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact tests were applied for data analysis using the SPSS software version 23.0. Results: A total of 200 school-going adolescent girls (100 cases and 100 age-matched controls) were included in this study. The strength of getting symptoms of menstruation was high amongst cases, and it was found that adolescent girls with high menstrual symptoms had more chances of developing menstrual abnormalities (odds ratio = 6.6; confidence interval = 2.9–17.2). Menstrual abnormality was found significantly associated (P < 0.05) with reduced physical activity, unhealthy dietary patterns and family history of obesity amongst school-going adolescent girls. Conclusions: Unhealthy lifestyles, improper diet, reduced physical activity and family history of obesity were strongly associated with the abnormal menstrual cycle pattern.

Demographic correlates, lifestyle habits, and health effects of poor sleep quality in Indian adolescent girls living in a second-tier city

Background: Insufficient sleep, poor sleep quality, and sleepiness are common problems related to learning, memory, and school performance. During puberty, sleep habits change earlier among girls in parallel to their earlier pubertal maturity. The changes occur during adolescence in response to maturational changes and increased autonomy and independence. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality among adolescent girls in a second-tier city. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional observational study conducted in 150 school-going adolescent girls from three different schools in a second-tier city. The study was conducted using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale for assessment of the quality of sleep and an investigator designed pro forma to analyze various lifestyle habits. Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale 6 was used to address the depressive symptoms. Results: Prevalence of poor sleep quality was 9.2%. Pre-bed screen time of >30 min was found in 53% of girls with poor sleep quality. Overweight girls also have poor sleep quality. Good grades (>90% marks in examinations) were associated with poor sleep quality. About 8.3% of girls with poor sleep quality have one or more symptoms pertaining to depression. Conclusion: The pre-bed screen time of more than 30 min in the form of any electronic screens leads to poor sleep quality and poor sleep quality is significantly associated with being overweight. Poor sleep quality is also associated with some symptoms of depression. These all are observed in the girls living in a tier two city, awareness among adolescent girls must be spread to decrease the screen time and they should also be encouraged for better sleep hygiene.

Socio-Cultural Determinants Influencing Menstrual Hygiene Practices Among the School-Going Adolescent Girls in Primary Schools in Namanyonyi Sub County in Mbale District

Socio-Cultural Determinants Influencing Menstrual Hygiene Practices Among the School-Going Adolescent Girls in Primary Schools in Namanyonyi Sub County in Mbale District

Comprehensive assessment of the psychological well-being of school going adolescent girls in Chandigarh, India

Background: Adolescence, a crucial stage in human development, involves significant physical and psychological changes. Unfortunately, these transformations often go unnoticed, leading to an increase in psychological issues among adolescents. Objective of the study was to have a comprehensive assessment of the reasons due to which the adolescents are suffering from high psychological distress in school-going adolescent girls in Chandigarh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chandigarh schools included 168 adolescent females aged 13 to 19. The data collection utilized a multi-stage random sampling approach. Results: The research revealed that academic pressure 147 (87.5%), financial concerns of the family 77 (45.8%), difficulties in communication with family and peers 86 (51.2%) and the negative thinking pattern (83.4%, n=140) are affecting the adolescent girls' mental well-being. The study revealed that a significant number of participants frequently experienced emotions such as nervousness, guilt, social anxiety, insecurity, discrimination, and difficulty concentrating. Additionally, a substantial portion of the group reported instances of sleeplessness 92 (54.8%) and feelings of loneliness 136 (81%). Participants also indicated engaging in coping mechanisms like over thinking, procrastination, and overeating when facing stress. Alarmingly, some individuals turned to smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse as stress-relief strategies, raising concerns for the community. Conclusions: The study highlighted the fact that supportive environment at home and in schools, with open communication and counseling to address these issues. Work should be done to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issue and encourage open conversations about mental health to help adolescents feel more comfortable seeking support.

The Impact of mHealth Education on Changing Menstrual Hygiene Management Knowledge and Practices Among School-Going Adolescent Girls in Rural Bangladesh: A Quasi-experimental Study Protocol.

Menstruation is a normal physiological process for women during their reproductive cycle, typically beginning during adolescence. During this stage, lack of knowledge, social taboos, and shyness act as barriers to proper menstrual hygiene management, rendering adolescent girls more vulnerable. This issue is highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. In rural areas of Bangladesh, there is a deficiency in menstrual hygiene management due to inadequate information and knowledge among adolescent girls. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effect of mHealth education on the knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene management among school-going adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh. This is a quasi-experimental study conducted from early June to December 2023 at a secondary high school in Chandpur, Bangladesh. Participants' data will be collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire covering socioeconomics, knowledge of menstrual hygiene management, and practices. Pre-test data will be collected at baseline, followed by a 6-month mHealth education intervention. Afterward, post-test data will be collected using the same questionnaire. The data will be analyzed as frequency and percentage for descriptive statistics, and a paired t-test will be used to compare the pre-and post-test data. In the study, 172 participants were enrolled at baseline. Among them, 69.8% were aged 10-14 years. The outcome of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The findings will provide evidence-based information for the government, researchers, and policymakers on menstrual hygiene management using mobile health technology. mHealth education can be posited as a significant tool for increasing knowledge and practices related to menstrual hygiene management in rural regions of Bangladesh.

Comparative Study of the Prevalence of Psychological and Physiological Symptoms of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome between Rural and Urban Adolescent School-Going Girls

Comparative Study of the Prevalence of Psychological and Physiological Symptoms of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome between Rural and Urban Adolescent School-Going Girls

Perception of self and it's effect on anxiety and depression among adolescent girls.

Perception of self is a primary source for fostering negative influences in an adolescent's life. This stage may increase the risk for various psychiatric disorders. To assess the grade of anxiety and depression and to study their relationship with various factors of perception of self, among adolescent girls. School-going adolescent girls from two government schools at Lucknow were selected using a two-stage random sampling technique. A total of 200 participants were personally interviewed for their socio-demographic details, perception of self, and screened for symptoms of anxiety and depression. Of the 200 school-going adolescent girls who participated in the study, 63.5% screened positive for the symptoms of anxiety and 73.0% for symptoms of depression. A total of 11.5% and 3.5% school-going adolescent girls had severe anxiety and major depression; severe severity, respectively. Both anxiety and depression among school-going adolescent girls were significantly associated with factors like possessing qualities that they are ashamed of (P = 0.005 and 0.011), body image dissatisfaction (P = 0.004 and 0.017), and getting suicidal thoughts in times of difficulties (P < 0.001). A fair number of adolescent girls had severe anxiety and major depression of severe severity. Therefore, adolescents must be screened for mental disorders from time to time and those at high risk must be identified.

LEVEL AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG SCHOOL-GOING ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN RURAL JUMLA DISTRICT, NEPAL

Background: Mensuration is a natural process that occurs to women of reproductive age regularly throughout the reproductive years. Many Girls in developing countries do not have adequate knowledge and education about menstrual health before they start their menstruation. This study aimed to determine level of knowledge and its associated factors regarding menstrual hygiene among School-Going Adolescent Girls in rural Jumla district, Nepal. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural area of Jumla district, Nepal, among 430 young adolescent girls, during January 2022- August 2022. Among 12 secondary schools of Jumla, 7 government secondary school were selected randomly by using lottery method. The data was analyzed using chi-square test. p value &lt;0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age was 17.1 (±1.14) years and the average age of menarche was 14 (±1.30) years. A total of 62.1% of them had good knowledge regarding menstruation and its management. There was statistically significant association among the grade of participants (p value0.014), mother’s education (p value: 0.039) and known about menstruation before the start of menarche (p value 0.001). Conclusions: The majority of the adolescent’s girls had good knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene, however there was a knowledge gap in specific areas. Knowledge level of menstrual hygiene was significantly associated with the grade of participants, mother’s education and known about mensuration before the start of menarche. The study suggested that girls in rural areas need more education on menstrual hygiene, taking into account of these factors.

Menstrual hygiene among the school-going early adolescent girls (10-14 Years): A socio-cultural study in Bankura District, West Bengal, India

The onset of menstruation is a significant milestone in female puberty, marking the transition from girlhood to womanhood and initiating the reproductive phase of a woman's life. In Indian society, menstruation is associated with a myriad of traditions, myths, misconceptions, taboos, and superstitions. Open discussions about menstruation management are rare. Various socio-cultural influences propagate negative or erroneous information among girls, detrimentally affecting their understanding of menstrual hygiene and safe practices. This cross-sectional study focuses on early adolescent girls (aged 10-14 years) from a high school in the Bankura district of West Bengal, illuminating the socio-cultural factors that prevent them from gaining appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning menstrual hygiene. The study found that 11.87% of the girls viewed menstruation as a result of a divine curse, 1.70% perceived it as a disease, and 54.23% lacked a clear understanding of this crucial life phase. Additionally, the majority were ignorant of the source of menstrual bleeding. A mere 8.47% of the girls had knowledge of menstruation before experiencing their first period (menarche). Most of girls didn’t even hear about menstruation before menarche. Thus, menstruation and its associated practices are overshadowed by prevalent taboos and socio-cultural misconceptions.

EMPOWERING ADOLESCENTS: EXPLORING MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AWARENESS AND PRACTICES AMONG SCHOOLGIRLS IN PESHAWAR- A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objectives: To assess the awareness and practices relating to menstrual hygiene among school-going adolescent girls of Peshawar, Pakistan Materials and methods: A cross-sectional institution-based research was employed in Hayatabad, Peshawar, from February 2022 to July 2022. The selection of the four schools was done through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data was collected from 200 adolescent girls through self-administered questionnaires and statistical analysis was done using SPSS. Descriptive data was expressed in the form of mean ±SD, frequencies, and percentages. A chi-square test was applied to find the association between sociodemographic factors and menstrual hygiene practices. A p-value of &lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 200 girls who took part in the study, 120 (60%) exhibited inadequate awareness of menstrual hygiene, while 86 (43%) demonstrated poor hygiene practices during menstruation. 115 (57.5%) knew that hormones were the cause of menstruation. The most frequently used menstrual product was a disposable sanitary pad followed by cloth. The menstrual hygiene practices were significantly associated with the education status of the mother (p= 0.022) and the occupation of the father (p= 0.047). Conclusion: The results of our study revealed a concerning trend: approximately two-thirds of the respondents exhibited inadequate awareness, while one-third demonstrated suboptimal hygiene practices related to menstruation. This demonstrates the need to make efforts to educate adolescent girls about more hygienic and safer methods of managing menstruation and such products are made more affordable and accessible to them. Keywords: Awareness, practices, menstrual hygiene, adolescent girls, menstruation

Delivering PACE++ curriculum in community settings: Impact of TARA intervention on gender attitudes and dietary practices among adolescent girls in Bihar, India.

Adolescence phase has high intrinsic and instrumental relevance. The Transformative Action for Rural Adolescents intervention delivered PACE++ curriculum with innovations to introduce a) health and nutrition sessions and b) delivery of the content in community settings of rural Bihar. This paper examines impact of the intervention showcasing establishment of intergenerational community connect for empowering and invigorating adolescent girls on gender attitude, empowerment and adolescent health and nutrition. The impact evaluation is based on a two-arm (intervention and comparison groups) cluster randomized controlled design with two rounds of representative cross-sectional surveys. The baseline and endline sample comprised of 2327 and 2033 adolescent girls (15-19 years), respectively. Descriptive statistical, difference-in-differences and propensity score matching methods are used to confirm the program impact. The DID and PSM analyses confirm high significance of impact on gender equity norms, diets and nutritional knowledge and understanding of employee related rights and responsibilities. School-going adolescent girls performed better than those who have discontinued formal education. The intervention showcases the importance of delivering the modified PACE curriculum in rural settings through leveraging community platforms. The findings call for greater policy attention on scaling up of similar initiatives for empowerment and social capital development of adolescent girls.

Impact of eHealth education to reduce anemia among school-going adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Adolescent girls are highly vulnerable to developing anemia due to reproductive immaturity, poor personal hygiene, and lack of nutritional intake and health education in rural Bangladesh. Digital health technology is a promising tool to overcome barriers and provide appropriate health guidelines. We aim to evaluate eHealth education's impact and changes in adolescent girls' knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding anemia. A 1:1 parallel randomized control trial was conducted among school-going adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh. A total of 138 anemic (mild and moderate) participants were enrolled. We randomized schools to reduce the health education bias through a simple coin toss technique, then allocated participants to the intervention group (n = 69) and control group (n = 69) by stratified random sampling technique. The intervention group received two online counseling sessions and 8-month eHealth education through mobile phone calls and short message service regarding anemia. The control group received the usual care. The primary endpoint changes the anemic level through changing knowledge, healthy lifestyle behavior, and an iron-rich food dietary plan. Per-protocol analysis will utilize to compare the control and intervention groups using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean, SD) will be employed, and continuous variables will be compared using the t-test/Mann-Whitney test. Two-way analysis of variance will assess outcome variables at baseline, 4 months, and 8 months. The 8-month intervention is designed from May 2022 to February 2023. Participants' age range of 10-14 years was 60.9% in the intervention group and 56.5% in the control group. Among the participants, 89.9% and 88.4% were mild anemic; 11.11 (SD ± 0.80) and 11.06 (SD ± 0.96) were mean hemoglobin in the intervention and control groups, respectively. eHealth education is expected to be an effective way to increase knowledge and healthy behavioral change, which can reduce the anemia burden among adolescent girls.

Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Schoolgoing Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa.

(1) Background: By October 2022, vaccination rates with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were low among adolescent girls aged 12-17 (38%) and young women aged 18-34 (45%) in South Africa. This study aimed to measure and identify barriers to and facilitators of motivation to take up, access to, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among schoolgoing adolescent girls and young women in two districts in South Africa. (2) Methods: Using the theory of the HIV prevention cascade, we conceptualised the relationship between motivation, access, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, and associated barriers. Potential barriers and facilitators were identified using bivariate and multivariable Poisson regression. (3) Results: Among all 2375 participants, access was high (69%), but motivation (49%) and vaccination with at least one COVID-19 vaccine (45%) were lower. Fear of injections was a barrier to vaccine uptake (aRR 0.85 95% CI 0.82-0.88), while being tested for COVID-19 (aRR 2.10 95% CI 1.85-2.38) and believing that the COVID-19 vaccine was safe (aRR 1.31 95% CI 1.18-1.44) and would prevent you from getting very sick (aRR 1.11 95% CI 1.04-1.19) were facilitators. (4) Conclusions: The controversy about the value of vaccinating adolescents and the delay in vaccine rollout for adolescents and young adults may have contributed to fears about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as a lack of motivation to get vaccinated.

Correlates of poor self-rated health among school-going adolescent girls in urban Varanasi, India

BackgroundThe concept of self-rated health (SRH) has widely been studied among the adults and older population in developed as well as developing countries, including India. Also, studies are available in abundance examining the various concepts of SRH among adolescents. However, in India, studies on the SRH of adolescents remain scarce, especially those aiming to understand the correlates of SRH among school-going adolescent girls in an urban setting. Therefore, this study aims to determine the correlates of poor SRH among school-going adolescent girls in the urban setting of Varanasi, India.MethodsThis study is based on the primary data collected in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, India, from October 2019 to February 2020. Nearly 350 adolescent girls and their mothers were personally interviewed. Self-rated health was the primary outcome variable of this study. The exact wording of the question asked from the adolescent girls was, “In general, how would you say your health is?”.ResultsAlmost one-fifth (19.4%) of the adolescent girls reported poor SRH. Adolescent girls from Other Backward Class (OBC) [OR: 0.39; 95% CI: .18-.85] and Others caste [OR: 0.58; 95% CI: .23–0.87] were less likely to report poor SRH than their Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) counterparts. Girls residing in households where number of daughters were more than sons were more likely to report poor SRH [OR: 7.8; 95% CI: 1.5–39.5] than girls who belonged to the daughters only households.ConclusionComposition of children was one of the important factors as outlined in this study. The role of mothers in improving the overall SRH of the girls is critical as they are involved in caring process of their daughters.

DHEERA reaching the young, a novel approach addressing gender-based violence in India.

To understand, build capacities, give guidance, and support school-going adolescent boys and girls on gender stereotypes and violence against women (VAW) and to assess the role of educational training in improving knowledge, attitudes, and practice to stop VAW. An educational interventional study was conducted for a period of 18 months across schools in India, involving boys and girls studying in grades 9-12. Assessment of the program's effectiveness on influencing young minds in breaking the taboos surrounding gender stereotypes and stopping VAW was completed through a pre-test and post-test, consisting of 12 scenario-based questions. In all, 8931 participants (64% girls and 36% boys) from 26 states in India submitted their pre-test, post-test, and feedback forms. Participants showed improved clarity and comprehension on issues surrounding VAW/gender-based violence. There was a significant improvement in the knowledge on what actions can be taken and whom to approach for cases related to VAW/gender-based violence. The post-test survey showed a high level of commitment to overcoming gender stereotyping and stopping VAW. This unique nationwide study demonstrated the effectiveness of an educational intervention that led to improved knowledge, attitude, and commitment towards stopping VAW. A large-scale program can be self-sustaining when it is embedded in the schools responsible for shaping young minds.

A study on prevalence and risk factors of depression among adolescent girls studying in government and private schools-A comparative study.

The prevalence of depression among school-going adolescent girls in India is about 40%. Adolescent girls attending private and government-run schools in South India have vastly different sociodemographic backgrounds and school environments. Assessing the associated risk factors for depression will help in designing appropriate preventive strategies. To evaluate the prevalence of depression among school-going adolescent girls and the associated risk factors among government and private school students. The cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in two private and two government-run schools in Tamil Nadu. A semi-structured questionnaire and 11-item Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale were administered to female students belonging to grades eight, nine, and ten. Differences in the prevalence of depression and the familial, social, and behavioral risk factors between private and government school students were measured and analyzed. The prevalence of depression among our study population is 23.8%. An adolescent girl studying in a private school has a 4.67 times higher chance of being depressed as compared to her counterpart in a government school. Stress due to higher academic expectations, peer pressure, disagreement with friends, excess smartphone usage, and family discord are associated factors in private school students, and family discord and chronic illness among family members were associated risk factors for depression in government school students. There is a wide disparity in the prevalence of depression and associated factors among private and government school-going adolescent girls. The intervention program for depression has to be addressed differently according to the type of school.

Enhancement of Health-related Quality of Life among School-going Adolescent Girls with Improvement in Menstrual Hygiene Knowledge and Practices

Background and Aim: In India, among adolescent girls, the problem associated with menstrual hygiene management (MHM) has a deep impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Improvement in knowledge and menstrual hygiene practices may lead to enhancement in HRQoL. Therefore, the aim of the study was to enhance the HRQoL of adolescent school girls by improvement in menstrual hygiene knowledge and practices. Materials and Methods: The present study was an interventional, cross-sectional, questionnaire study conducted among adolescent school-going girls. The study was conducted among randomly selected five government secondary schools in Ajmer city and was conducted among adolescent girls of 7th–10th Class with the age group of 14–16 years. A total of 538 adolescent girls were surveyed in the pretest, and 503 was the sample size in the posttest with an attrition of 6.5%. Moreover, after the pretest, a workshop was conducted to educate adolescent girls about MHM. Results: A majority of the study participants (328 [61%]) had poor HRQoL after the pretest, which was improved to 195 (39%) of the study participants with good HRQoL after 3 months of the workshop during the posttest. The mean general health scores ([15.35 ± 0.38]) after 3 months of the workshop were significantly (P = 0.01*) higher among the study participants compared to the pretest scores ([10.93 ± 1.63]). Conclusion: From the above results, it has been concluded that there has been a significant improvement in knowledge, practice, and HRQoL among adolescent school-going girls of age 14–16 years when assessed after 3 months of the workshop on MHM.

Mapping the Expertise and Understanding of Menarche, Menstrual Hygiene, and Menstrual Health among Adolescent Ladies in Low- and Center-Profit Nations

Mapping the Expertise and Understanding of Menarche, Menstrual Hygiene, and Menstrual Health among Adolescent Ladies in Low- and Center-Profit Nations

Epidemiology of menstrual hygiene practices among school-going adolescent girls in peri-urban Bangladesh

Epidemiology of menstrual hygiene practices among school-going adolescent girls in peri-urban Bangladesh