Teenagers Research Articles

Uncovering Determinant of Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls

Anaemia is a significant global public health issue that primarily affects adolescent girls. Smoking, malaria, and low family income are associated with teenage Anaemia in girls. The purpose of the study was to uncover determinant Anaemia among adolescent girls. This type of research is cross-sectional. The research location was at the high schools in Central Sulawesi from March to September 2023. The study sample was teenage girls, with as many as 384 respondents. Simple random sampling was the method used for the sample. The study's independent variables included the respondents' anthropometrics, sociodemographics, and infectious illnesses. The dependent variable was haemoglobin levels. The research instrument used a Kobotoolbox application questionnaire. They measure weight with digital scales, height with Length board measuring, and arm circumference with mid-upper arm circumstances. Laboratory analysts carried out measurements of haemoglobin levels. Chi-square test analysis of research data with a 95% confidence level. Test of logistic regression in multivariate analysis. The findings indicated that 20.3% of teenage girls suffered from Anaemia. Adolescent girls who smoke (OR=3.2, 95% CI (1.10, 8.70)), have malaria (OR=1.9, 95% CI (0.80, 5.00)), and come from an income family with less than Rp. 2.599.546 (OR=1.7, 95% CI (1.00, 2.90)) are at risk for Anaemia. Adolescent girls' anaemia prevalence was a moderate public health concern. Teenage girls who smoke, have malaria and have a family low income below are determinants for Anaemia.

The Relationship Between Nutritional Status, Vegetable Consumption and Physical Activity with Age of Menarche in Adolescent Girls

Background:Menarche is the first menstrual period and marks the maturity of an adolescent girl's body. In the last decade, there has been an increase in nutritional status of children and adolescents which is often associated with an accelerated age of menarche. Several studies have shown a strong relationship between physical activity, body mass index (BMI) with the age at which menarche occurs in teenage girls. The habit of consuming certain foods such as meat and fast food is proven to accelerate the age of menarche due to an increase in fat levels. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between age of menarche with BMI, physical activity, and vegetable consumption. Methods: This research was conducted using cross-sectional study design. Participants had been filtered by inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. Selected participants then had their height and weight measured, and filled out an online questionnaire regarding menarche and physical activity. Participants also underwent a 24-hour recall interview to determine their vegetable consumption. Results: Fifty-two participants were recruited in this study. Most of them were 12 and 13 years of age (42.3% each). Based on the results of Kruskal-Wallis test, there was no relationship between age of menarche and BMI (p = 0.071), between age of menarche and physical activity (p=0.251) and between age of menarche and vegetable consumption (p=0.753) Conclusion: In conclusion, based on the results of this study, we did not find any correlation between the age of menarche and BMI, physical activity and vegetable consumption among adolescent girls in West Java region.

The Influence of Green Marketing in Clothing Products on the Buying Habits of Teenage Girls

Green Marketing is a strategic marketing approach that an increasing number of companies are using to attract consumers. Consequently, it has led to the widespread dishonest use of such marketing, known as greenwashing. The goal of this study was to fill the knowledge gap on the relationship between green marketing and consumption behavior within fashion, specifically pertaining to teenage girls. Thus, the results will show the extent that the issue of greenwashing impacts female adolescent consumers. A mixed method approach was utilized consisting of a content analysis on the websites of five clothing brands and an online experimental shopping simulation. The content analysis was conducted under coding guidelines which split the green marketing into three different categories: product, brand, and renewal. The qualitative data from the content analysis was used to create the shopping simulation with the three forms of green marketing and no green marketing included. A post-test survey at the end of the experiment addressed confounding variables and provided further insights. A One-Way ANOVA Statistical Analysis was applied to the results of the shopping simulation and found no statistically significant relationship between green marketing and the buying habits of teenage girls. However, while not statistically significant, product green marketing had a notably higher influence than the other three categories, giving implications for brands and future research. Further insights from the posttest survey were notable in that only about 25% of teenage girls were aware of the term greenwashing, proving its deceptiveness among a relevant demographic in fashion.

Menstrual Disorders in Adolescence

In teenage girls, menstrual abnormalities are rather prevalent. Particularly in the first few years after menarche, periods can be irregular, heavy, and/or painful. Serious pathology is uncommon, but menstruation disruption can have a big impact on daily life and cause absences from school. Although the evidence supporting their usage is extrapolated from adult data, there are numerous therapeutic alternatives that are safe to use in adolescents. We give a clinical evaluation of current practice, including how girls with additional medical issues and learning disabilities are managed

Invest in Future: Prioritising Youth Family Planning

Dividend of our much-touted youth bulge will remain a pipedream unless our policy makers realise the need for investing in the health, education, and general wellbeing of the young. Our young population is at a greater risk than adults when using contraceptive services. This risk results from a lack of early education in human reproductive system as well as the cultural taboos surrounding the subject. Affordability, accessibility, and knowledge of contraception are inadequate for young women and couples who would want to space pregnancies. Individuals’ reproductive intentions remain uninformed by critical awareness that swells the number of unintended pregnancies, further aggravated by hazardous unprofessionally administered abortions.
 ONE-THIRD OF YOUNG MARRIED WOMEN HAVE A DESIRE TO USE CONTRACEPTION
 There are misconceptions that family planning is for older or married women, despite the fact that many adolescent girls are sexually active. Nearly one third of the young married women, aged 15-19, have a desire to use contraception but are not currently using any contraceptive methods in Pakistan.
 EARLY INITIATION OF CHILDBEARING IS LINKED TO EDUCATION, OR LACK OF IT
 Universally, early childbearing before age 18 is associated with many sociodemographic and economic risk factors for young women. For instance, having a child during teenage has adverse consequences for both mother and child’s health. Similarly, women who marry before they are 18 are more likely to drop out of school and are less likely to work.
 In Pakistan, eight percent of teenage women between 15-19 have begun child bearing and it has remained unchanged since 2012-13 (NIPS 2018). Young women, aged 15-19, with no formal education are at a higher risk of teenage childbearing. Around 15 percent of the teenage ever-married girls with no formal education had already begun childbearing.
 DISCONNECT BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF CONTRACEPTION AMONG MARRIED WOMEN AGED 15-19
 Around 93 percent of currently married teenage women (15-19 years) are not using any contraceptive methods. However, when it comes to knowledge about contraceptive use, only 9 percent of the teenage women did not know any family planning method. A vast majority of women (90.5 percent) know about modern contraceptive methods (Figure 3a & 3b).
 UNINTENDED FERTILITY AND UNMET NEED FOR FAMILY PLANNING AMONG YOUNG WOMEN 
 Despite the universal knowledge of family planning methods, particularly modern methods, the lack of use of contraception results in unintended fertility. According to PDHS 2017-18, around 4 percent of the births among mothers less than 20 years old are mistimed. Unmet need for family planning is higher among women aged 15-19. Nearly 18 percent of the young currently married women have an unmet need for family planning in Pakistan (NIPS 2018).

Glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists: a ray of hope for the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome

Dear editor, The Glucagon-like-peptide receptor- 1, agonists belong to a class of drugs that have been used to treat type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide and Semaglutide are drugs of this class, commonly sold under the brand names Saxenda and Wegovy respectively. These drugs have also been approved by the FDA for weight loss in diabetic and non-diabetic obese people.1 The mechanism of action of GLP-1 agonists involve stimulating insulin secretion and delaying gastric emptying. Moreover, GLP-1 receptors are found on adipose tissue, where they promote the conversion of stored fat into energy. They also target the appetite center in the hypothalamus which increases satiety and reduces food intake to cause weight loss. A large number of females who struggle with obesity, concomitantly suffer from Polycystic Ovarian syndrome (PCOS) also which is a multifactorial endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, affecting 4-20% women around the world.2 One of the major manifestations of this syndrome is weight gain and difficulty in losing it. In contemporary medicine, the treatment of PCOS is limited to lifestyle intervention and symptomatic management. Thus, the patients of PCOS are often told by their doctors to simply lose weight. Physicians around the world agree that weight loss is crucial for women with PCOS who are obese to attain better metabolic, reproductive, and cardiovascular outcomes, because if not treated, obesity worsens the presentation of PCOS. But it is noteworthy that the ongoing hormonal imbalances, increased appetite and insulin resistance in this syndrome, all work against the body’s natural mechanism to lose weight and make it extremely difficult for the patient. This creates a dire need for external interventions regarding weight management in PCOS. Where conventional methods like dietary modifications and exercise alone do not provide substantial results, GLP-1 agonists can be a breakthrough for the management of PCOS since recent research and clinical data also provides evidence of correlation between obesity, GLP-1 kinetic alterations, and pathophysiology of PCOS.3 Hence the use of GLP-1 agonists can be a viable option for treatment of PCOS as multiple clinical trials have shown significant weight reduction, decrease in testosterone levels, improvement in insulin sensitivity and menstrual cycles.4 As the prevalence of PCOS continues to rise in Pakistan, the major presenting complaints include; weight gain, facial hair, acne and menstrual irregularities in teenage girls and infertility in married females. ---Continue

Depression Among Female Adolescents: An Overview

The rise of significant mental health distress in teenage girls, known as depression, is now a notable issue, impacting their general state of being, performance in academics, and interactions within their social circles. The aim of this overview is to synthesize existing research on depression counseling treatment strategies specifically tailored for female adolescents. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted, resulting in the inclusion of 12 relevant studies published between 1988 and 2015. The overview highlights various counseling approaches, therapeutic interventions, and preventive measures that have been explored in different literatures. The findings underscore the significance of tailored approaches, involving School-Based Intervention, Interpersonal Therapy, as well as Family-Based Interventions, in addressing the distinctive needs and challenges faced by adolescent females. The overview also calls for further research and innovative strategies to enhance the reach and impact of depression counseling interventions for female adolescents.

Trembling: The winds and I

This is a text based on a keynote address that I gave at the IDIERI, 2022 conference in Warwick. The theme of IDIERI, 2022 was “Navigating mess and complexity in uncertain times.” It is particularly relevant to this issue because the project described in this keynote emerges from, and is embedded in, our on-going work at Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF) and addresses Sustainable Development Goals 1, 4, 5, 10 and 13. The project is about teenage girls in Lucknow, India. It includes critical dialogues, poetry and drama, and culminates in a collectively curated script and performance. As girls in India, it reveals their fears and concerns about their current lives and their view of their future . Their embodied voices and poems show us what their lives are like and how they feel about the uncertainties shaped by their experience. Strict patriarchal social norms leave them feeling insecure, unsafe and unfree at home and in their immediate environment. It emerged that while they have a caring, connected relationship with nature, the climate crisis seems too distant. Their concerns about securing their present lives are more immediate.

DEPENDENCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE TISSUES OF THE FALLOPIAN TUBES IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN WITH INFLAMMATORY GENITAL DISEASE ON THE TAXONOMIC AFFILIATION OF PATHOGENS

The aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of the fallopian tubes' clinical, microbiological and histological characteristics in adolescent girls and young women with inflammatory genital disease.
 Materials and methods. The etiological diagnosis of inflammatory disease was established with the help of complex microbiological and cytological studies of biomaterial from the vagina of teenage girls and the cervical canal of young women before hospitalization and histological examination fragments of fallopian tube – after surgery. The microbiological examination included the cultural detection of bacteria of various taxonomic groups, fungi, mycoplasmas, and ureaplasmas from the biomaterial. A set of methods described in the article was used to detect chlamydia [13]. The degree of bacterial infection of the fallopian tube fragments was assessed by determining the microbial count. Histological examination of biopsy specimens of fallopian tube tissues removed during surgery was performed by the conventional method [9].
 Results. In the examination of 29 adolescent girls and young women hospitalized for surgical treatment, a comparative analysis was conducted between the clinical manifestations of inflammatory genital disease, identifiable factors, and histological signs of damaged fallopian tubes.When studying the spectrum of factors in the inflammatory focus (fallopian tube biopsies) in adolescent girls (n=12), enterobacteria (33.3%), staphylococci (33.3%), streptococci (8.35%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.35%) were detected; in 16.7% of adolescent girls, the cultures were sterile. In young women (n=17), microbiological examination of fallopian tube tissues revealed chlamydia (29.4%), mycoplasma (11.6%), ureaplasma (5.8%), gonococci (5.8%), enterobacteria (5.8%), fungi (5.8%); in 6 (35.8%) of the examined women, no bacterial growth was detected. Among young women who had been operated on for tubo-ovarian inflammatory diseases and ectopic pregnancy, chlamydia were most often (29.4%) found in the tissues of the fallopian tubes.
 Conclusions. The studies have shown that in the development of acute purulent salpingitis in young women, sclerotic changes and signs characteristic of the productive process prevailed in the tissues of the fallopian tubes against the background of genital inflammation, and in adolescent girls, an exudative process was observed against the background of genital inflammation. The peculiarities of the course of genital inflammation depend on the biological properties of pathogens of different taxonomic affiliations.

Dark chocolate as a non-pharmacological alternative to reduce dysmenorrhea in adolescents

Dysmenorrhea, menstrual pain often experienced by women of reproductive age, including teenage girls, can cause discomfort and hinder daily activities, necessitating treatment. Chocolate contains copper, which synthesizes neurotransmitters like collagen and endorphins, serving as an analgesic and natural sedative to alleviate pain. This study aimed to assess the effect of dark chocolate on reducing dysmenorrhea in adolescents. This study employed a quasi-experimental research design and was conducted over six months at a polytechnic in Bandung. Pain intensity was measured using a standardized instrument known as the WALIDD score. A total of forty students with primary dysmenorrhea participated in the study, selected through purposive sampling, and were divided into a treatment group and a control group. The independent variables included the administration of dark chocolate, while the dependent variable was the intensity of menstrual pain in students with primary dysmenorrhea. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test. The intervention group, which received education on menstruation and dark chocolate, exhibited a significant reduction in dysmenorrhea pain as early as the second day, with a p-value of <0.001. Administering dark chocolate at a dosage of 35 mg/day from the onset of menstruation helps reduce pain from the first day of menstruation compared to standard therapy, which includes education about menstruation. Chocolate enhances mood due to its copper content, releasing endogenous morphine that inhibits pain impulses. This makes chocolate a non-pharmacological alternative for alleviating dysmenorrhea.

Social Media’s Seductive Spell – Unraveling the Impact on Teen Girls

Abstract Body image is a critical aspect of a person’s mental and physical well-being. Social media platforms can provide opportunities to connect with peers, express themselves, and explore different identities. The prevalence of social media usage among teenage girls has raised concerns about the impact of sexualized images on their body image and well-being. The sexualization of social media and its impact on teen girls can be attributed to various factors. These factors such as peer comparison, peer influence, celebrity culture, cultural norms, social media algorithms, and advertising strategies play a significant role in promoting unrealistic beauty ideals. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly investigate and understand how these factors contribute to the issue. The negative impact of sexualized images includes internalization of beauty standards, negative body image, increased risk of eating disorders, psychosexual health issues, impaired mental health, and objectification of girls. To address this issue, several potential solutions and strategies are proposed. These include promoting digital literacy and critical thinking skills to help girls recognize the unrealistic nature of beauty standards portrayed on social media. Encouraging body positivity and diversity is essential to redefine beauty ideals. Open communication among parents, educators, and girls can create a supportive environment to discuss body image concerns. Mental health support and limiting social media exposure are crucial in mitigating the negative effects of sexualized images. Furthermore, the article emphasizes the need for government intervention to protect vulnerable users and encourage responsible platform management. Suggested policies and measures include age verification systems, robust content moderation, clear reporting mechanisms, and industry-wide guidelines for content and advertising.

BODY DISSATISFACTION, KECEMASAN SOSIAL PADA REMAJA PEREMPUAN

When interacting socially, not all teenage girls will feel safe, because in reality there are still many teenage girls who feel anxious and uncomfortable when dealing directly with their surroundings and thus experience social anxiety. One of the factors that influences it is body dissatisfaction. This research aims to determine the effect of body dissatisfaction on social anxiety in adolescent girls. High levels of body dissatisfaction can lead to serious consequences, such as eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, social anxiety can limit social participation and affect interpersonal relationships. Sampling used the Nonprobability Sampling technique with the Incidental Sampling method. This research involved 347 teenage girls aged 12-21 years. The measuring instruments used in this research were the body dissatisfaction scale (29 items, α = 0.964) and the social anxiety scale (26 items, α = 0.922). The research results show that there is a significant influence of body dissatisfaction on social anxiety in female adolescents (p = 0.000 < 0.05) with an influence size of R square = 45.4% and the direction of the relationship between the two variables is positive with a value of r = 0.674. This means that if body dissatisfaction increases, social anxiety will also increase and vice versa, if body dissatisfaction decreases, social anxiety will also decrease.

Socioeconomic inequality in teenage pregnancy in Papua New Guinea: a decomposition analysis

BackgroundTeenage pregnancy is a global public health issue, and it poses a serious threat to the health and socioeconomic status of mothers and their newborn children. Although Papua New Guinea has recorded one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates among Asia-Pacific countries, few studies have conducted research on the related inequality in the country. Therefore, this study aimed to assess socioeconomic inequality in teenage pregnancy and its contributing factors in Papua New Guinea.MethodsData for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the 2016–2018 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey. The analytical sample consisted of 2,864 girls aged 15–19 years. We employed Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI) and concentration curves to measure and depict socioeconomic inequality in teenage pregnancy. Decomposition analysis was likewise performed to identify the contributions of determinants to the observed inequality.ResultsWeighted ECI for teenage pregnancy was − 0.0582 (P < 0.001), thereby indicating that teenage pregnancy in Papua New Guinea is disproportionately concentrated among poor girls. Decomposition analysis suggested that education level (65.2%), wealth index (55.2%), early sexual debut (25.1%), region (8.5%), and sex of household head (4.1%) are the main determinants explaining the pro-poor socioeconomic inequality in teenage pregnancy.ConclusionsA pro-poor socioeconomic inequality of teenage pregnancy was present in Papua New Guinea. This inequality may be alleviated by such interventions as ensuring that teenage girls receive education; implementing poverty alleviation projects, eliminating child, early, and forced marriages; strengthening promotion for household head to support teenagers in accessing sexual and reproductive health education; improving geographical accessibility to health facilities on contraceptive services, and taking necessary precautions and responses to sexual misconduct.

Menstruation Hygiene Practices Among Girl Students in Kathmandu Valley

The study, titled "Menstruation hygiene practices among higher-level girls students," explores the natural process of menstruation in the female reproductive system occurring monthly. Governed by hormonal changes, menstruation is a pivotal facet of the menstrual cycle, and fertility and associated with physical and emotional symptoms like cramps, mood swings, and fatigue. Proper menstrual hygiene practices are vital for women's health during this period. Inadequate water, sanitation, hygiene facilities, limited education, and deficient menstrual hygiene management make girls perceive menstruation as embarrassing and uncomfortable. In Nepal, many teenage girls lack education about menstruation, adversely affecting their health. The study aims to assess menstruation hygiene practices among higher-level female students before and during menstruation. Using quantitative and descriptive methods, the research selected 250 students through simple random sampling from 650 enrolled on two constituent campuses. These campuses were chosen via convenience sampling from 22 within the Kathmandu Valley. Ethical considerations were followed, ensuring confidentiality and obtaining oral consent from participants. The findings underline the significance of comprehensive menstrual health education and the sway of cultural beliefs on menstruation experiences. Encouraging open discussions, dispelling myths, ensuring access to accurate information, and cultivating supportive environments are essential for enhancing menstrual health and overall well-being.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN COKELAT HITAM (DARK CHOCOLATE) TERHADAP PENURUNAN SKALA NYERI HAID (DISMENHOREA PRIMER)PADA REMAJA PUTRI KELAS 8 DI SMP NEGERI 1 DELI TUA KECAMATAN DELI TUA KABUPATEN DELI SERDANG

early life is a completely important period of development for kids, which is marked through the maturity of the physical (sexual) organs so that later they may be able to reproduce. Menstrual ache (dysmenorrhea) is pain or cramping inside the decrease abdomen, which appears before or at some point of menstruation. Menstrual ache is normally felt by means of women on the first day of menstruation. remedy of dysmenorrhea can be achieved with pharmacological and non-pharmacological remedy. To find out the impact of giving dark chocolate (darkish chocolate) on lowering menstrual ache scale (number one dysmenorrhea) in grade 8 teenage girls at SMP Negeri 1 Deli Tua, Deli Tua sub-district, Deli Serdang Regency in 2023. The sort of studies used was the only organization Pre take a look at and post take a look at layout, particularly a study conducted to evaluate one group. Respondents, specifically the complete populace, might be used as a pattern, particularly all fifteenth grade younger women. The results of bivariate evaluation using the Stastic wilcoxon acquired p = 0.000 (p &lt;0.05) so it was validated that there has been an effect of giving darkish chocolate to a decrease in menstrual ache scale (number one dysmenorrhea) in grade 8 adolescent women at SMP N 1 Deli old yr 2023.

Hubungan Personal Hygiene Saat Menstruasi dengan Kejadian Keputihan pada Remaja Putri Kelas X di SMA Negeri 3 Ambon

The cleanliness of the feminine area (personal hygiene), especially during menstruation, is often ignored by teenagers. If you don't maintain proper genital hygiene, then in damp conditions, fungi and bacteria in the feminine area will thrive. Using underwear that uses thin material and does not absorb sweat can also make the feminine area damp and smelly, making it easier for fungi and bacteria to nest and using sanitary napkins for more than 2-3 hours can make it easier for fungi and bacteria to nest in the feminine area. Aims to analyze the relationship between personal hygiene during menstruation and the incidence of vaginal discharge in class X teenage girls at SMA Negeri 3 Ambon. This study used quantitative research using a cross-sectional design. The sample in the study was 150 people. Data analysis using the Chi-Squere test research shows that the use of underwear has a p value = (0.720), the length of use of sanitary napkins has a p value of sanitary napkins = (0.000) and how to clean female organs has a p value = (0.523). there is only a significant relationship between the length of use of sanitary napkins and how to clean the female organs and the incidence of vaginal discharge in class X teenage girls at SMA Negeri 3 Ambon. Meanwhile, what is not significant is the use of underwear and how to clean the female organs with the incidence of vaginal discharge in class X teenage girls at SMA Negeri 3 Ambon.

Development of Communication Models Mother-Daughter-Dyads about Sex Education in Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy Research and Development (R&amp;D)

Background: Teenage pregnancy contributes significantly to the cause of mother death and baby death in Indonesia. A total of 9.5% of teenage girls aged 15-19 years have been married, pregnant and giving birth. One of the causes of high teenage pregnancies is the lack of sex education. The family is the first social environment to build character and values in adolescents. It is crucial to create a climate conducive to open discussion between parents and daughter about sex education. Still, in reality, many parents have not provided sufficient information to their children about how to prevent unsafe sex among teenagers and view taboo as one of the causes of the lack of communication among parents and daughters about sex. Purpose: This study aims to develop an effective communication model between mothers and teenagers on educational sex. Methods: This research uses the Research and Development (R&amp;D) way that is the research method used to produce a particular product and test the effectiveness of the product. Results: Identification of sexual communication between mothers and daughters concluded that both daughters and their mothers still had difficulty communicating related to sexual education. The results of the need assessment carried out by FGD have found formulations that respond to the need for models used in the enhancement of sexual communication between mothers and daughters. Conclusion: The model developed in this study showed results at the evaluation stage that there was an improvement in parents’ ability to conduct sexual communication using effective communication patterns.

Exploring the Lived Experiences of Iranian Teenage Girls: Consequences of Sharing Sexual Content in a Sexually Conservative Culture

Exploring the Lived Experiences of Iranian Teenage Girls: Consequences of Sharing Sexual Content in a Sexually Conservative Culture

Women’s health report for Belgium: addressing the information gap

Abstract Issue In the last years, Belgian policy makers have become increasingly concerned about health problems affecting only women (e.g. endometriosis) or affecting women in different ways than men (e.g. cardiovascular diseases). The current monitoring tools on the health status in Belgium routinely present information disaggregated by sex. Nevertheless, there is a need to go further than a mere comparison of men and women and strive for gender-sensitive health reporting. Description of the problem To address the information gap pertaining to the health of girls and women, a women's health report for Belgium was developed. The goal of this report is to identify and highlight health issues specific to women or affecting them differently and possible knowledge and data gaps. Results The report highlighted several data gaps, e.g. prevalence of endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, and several opportunities to fill them. The process also uncovered available but underused data on women-specific issues, including fertility treatments, abortions, and contraception. Among the main results, an analysis on girls (11-18 years old) showed an alarming difference in health status compared to boys, starting from a young age and increasing throughout adolescence. For example, girls reported experiencing more psychosomatic symptoms more often than boys with the difference increasing with age. Girls reported more often a negative perception of their health (22%) compared to boys (15%) and more often depressive symptoms (47%) than boys (31%). Conversely, boys were twice as likely to meet WHO recommendations on physical activity. Lessons This first report on women's health in Belgium highlighted the need to collect better information on women-specific issues and the need to promote the use of existing data. Results showed that gender differences in health emerge and increase during adolescence. We strived to put results into context to produce knowledge and recommendations for policymakers. Key messages • Developing a women’s health report allowed to highlight data gaps and underuse of existing data. • Specific interventions should target teenage girls.

Knowledge Regarding Adolescent Health among Teenage Girls in a View to Develop Information Booklet

The WHO considered adolescents people between 10 to 19 years of age. Adolescence is one of the most speedy and formative phases of human life, and the characteristic physical, cognitive, social, emotional and sexual growth is part of the adolescence phase. It required more attention in national growth policies, programs and plans. It is important that adolescents should have adequate knowledge regarding their health. Considering this fact, the current study is being undertaken. The aim of the study is to assess knowledge about adolescent health among the teenage girls with view to develop information booklet. The research approach adopted for the current study was non- experimental descriptive approach. The study was conducted on teenage girls from selected schools of Pune city. Simple random sampling technique was used to select samples (n= 200). A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from teenage girls which was validated by the experts and reliability was calculated. Formal permission was taken from IEC, BV(DU)CON, Pune to conduct the study and the same was obtained from selected schools under the study. The collected data was processed and analyzed using frequency and distribution method and association was calculated using Fisher test. Majority findings (80.5%) teenage girls were having good knowledge regarding adolescent health. Though majority (80.5%) teenage girls were having good knowledge regarding adolescent health ( reproductive and mental health). Few grey areas are still to highlighted and appropriated education need to be given, these areas were; first menstruation (44.5%), Estragon, androgen and progesterone (46.5%), female sex character (27.0%), sign of puberty (26.5%), late onset of menarche (29.0%), contraceptive pills (20.5%), suicidal thought (84.5%), cause by identify crisis and poor self-esteem (90.0%).