A study to assess knowledge on Premenstrual Syndrome among adolescent girls at selected junior colleges, Maharashtra in a view to prepare information booklet

Divya K.M¹, Ajit V. Deshpande²

¹Associate Professor, MES College of Nursing, Ghanekhunt-Lote, Tal-Khed, District-Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.

²Assistant Professor, MES College of Nursing, Ghanekhunt-Lote, Tal-Khed, District- Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: divyakm35@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Background: Premenstrual syndrome includes a bunch of physical and emotional problems that many girls and women get right before their periods begin each month. Premenstrual syndrome has both behavioral and physiological symptoms The present study was done to assess knowledge on Premenstrual Syndrome among adolescent girls at selected junior colleges. Objectives: 1) To assess the knowledge regarding premenstrual syndrome among adolescent girls of selected schools of Maharashtra state2) To find out the association between knowledge on premenstrual syndrome with selected demographic variables3) To prepare information booklet on Premenstrual syndrome. Methodology: The design used was Non experimental descriptive research design with quantitative approach. Stratified simple random sampling technique was used to select sample. The sample size was 30 adolescent girls between age 16-20 years. The tools used was structured questionnaire for socio-demographic and knowledge regarding premenstrual syndrome. Result: The findings of present study were that out of 30 girls 03 (10%) respondent had poor knowledge, 26 (86.67%) respondent had good knowledge and 1 (3.33%) respondent had excellent knowledge. Association between knowledge and demographic variables type of family, mother’s education, age at menarche, source of information, and place of living, attended sex education classes were found to be non significant association with knowledge score. Mother’s education and type of family got significant association with knowledge score

KEYWORDS: Premenstrual Syndrome, Information booklet.

INTRODUCTION:

Adolescence is distinct and dynamic phase of development in the life of an individual. WHO consider the “adolescence” to be the period between 10 and 19 years of age which generally encompasses the time from the onset of puberty to the full legal age. In India the adolescent population constitutes more than one fifth of the total population.

According to 1992-1993 DHS data on adolescents in India, especially girls in urban consist of 26% and girls in rural consist of 74% between the age group of 10-14 years. There is wide disparity between educational achievement for boys and girls; however rates between 1993 and 1999 are improving for girls. Unmet need among adolescents has declined by about 3% between 1993 and 1999 in; unmet need was 27.1% among adolescent girls of 15-19 age group.¹

Menstruation is a normal physiological cycle, common to all female in the reproductive age group. The initiation of menstruation takes place during early adolescence period. Premenstrual syndrome is a recurrent disorder that occurs in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. It is characterized by intense physical, psychological and behavioral changes that interrupt interpersonal relationship and disrupt the lives of affected women.

Premenstrual syndrome has both behavioral and physiological symptoms. It has been estimated that 30% of women experience some degree of premenstrual symptom. Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome vary from cycle to cycle and throughout life.²

Premenstrual syndrome includes a bunch of physical and emotional problems that many girls and women get right before their periods begin each month. The most common signs and symptoms are breast pain and tenderness, acne, bloating, backache, painful thighs, mood swings, irritability, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, food cravings, angry outbursts, depression, anxiety, fatigue and difficulty in concentrating, sleep disturbances, weakness, dizziness and suicidal tendency.³

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the knowledge regarding premenstrual syndrome among adolescent girls of selected schools of Maharashtra state

2. To find out the association between knowledge on premenstrual syndrome with selected demographic variables

3. To prepare information booklet on Premenstrual syndrome

HYPOTHESIS:

1. The adolescent girls may have some level knowledge on premenstrual syndrome

2. There will be significant association between the knowledge on premenstrual syndrome with selected demographic variables.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Research Approach:

Non experimental Research approach

Research Design:

Non experimental descriptive research design

Independent Variable:

Knowledge of adolescent girls on Premenstrual syndrome

Socio demographic variable:

Age at menarche, Type of family, Education status of mother, Source of information, Place of living and Sex education class.

Setting of the study:

Selected Junior colleges of Maharashtra state

Target Population:

Adolescent girls studying at selected junior colleges of Maharashtra

Sample:

Adolescent girls of age between 16 to 20 years studying at selected junior colleges of Maharashtra

Sample Size:

30 adolescent girls

Sampling Technique:

Stratified simple random sampling

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adolescent girls between age group of 16-20 years

2. Girls who have attained menarche

3. Adolescent girls who can read and write Marathi/Hindi/English

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Adolescent girls who is not willing to participate in this study

2. Girls who were absent during the period of data collection.

Description of tool:

The tool consists of a self administered questionnaire. It is divided into 2 parts.

Part I

This part of tool consists of 6 items on socio demographic variables

Part II

This part of tool consists of 20 items which are multiple choice questions related to knowledge of adolescent girls regarding premenstrual syndrome

Scoring of the items:

For knowledge items each correct answer was given a score ‘1‘and wrong answer score of ‘0’

Criteria for evaluation:

Knowledge level:

Score above 15 – Excellent knowledge

Score between 10 and 14 - Good knowledge

Score below 10 - Poor knowledge

Data Analysis:

The data obtained were analyzed in terms of objective of the study using descriptive and inferential statistics

RESULTS:

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of samples according to demographic variables

Sr. No

Demographic Variables

Percentage %

Age

a) 16-17years

b) 17-18years

c) 18-19years

d) 19-20years

43.33

53.33

3.33

Type of family

a) Nuclear

b) Joint

83.33

16.67

Mother’s education

a) No formal education

b) Primary and secondary education

c) Graduate

d) Post graduate

30.00

70.00

Place of living

a) Urban

b) Rural

13.33

86.67

Source of Information

a) Mother

b) Elder sister

c) Friends

d) Teachers

e) Mass media

90.00

10.00

Attented sex education class

a) Yes

b) No

100

Table 2: Classification of respondents based on level of knowledge

Knowledge level	Frequency	Percentage %
Poor (score below 5)	03	10
Good (Score 5-10)	26	86.67
Excellent (Score above 10)	01	3.33

Table 3 Mean, SD, range and mean percentage knowledge of respondents on premenstrual syndrome

Aspects	Max score	Knowledge of respondents
Aspects	Max score	Range	Mean	SD	Median	Mean (%)
Knowledge on Premenstrual syndrome	10	4-10	6.76	1.250	07	33.8

Table 4: Association between the level of knowledge on Premenstrual syndrome with demographic variables

Sr. No

Demographic Variables

Frequency

Knowledge level

Chi square

<Median 07

>Median 07

Age

a) 16-17years

b) 17-18years

c) 18-19years

d) 19-20years

1.51,df=2

P<0.05 NS

Type of family

a) Nuclear

b) Joint

0.84,df=3

P>0.05 S

Mother’s education

e) No formal education

f) Primary and secondary education

g) Graduate

h) Post graduate

0.25,df=3

P=0.05 S

Place of living

c) Urban

d) Rural

1.26,df=3

P<0.05 NS

Source of Information

f) Mother

g) Elder sister

h) Friends

i) Teachers

j) Mass media

00,df=3

P<0.05

Attended sex education class

c) Yes

d) No

00.df=3

P<0.05

DISCUSSION:

Overall knowledge level categorized as fair (below 10score), Good (11-14 score) and excellent (above 15 score). The table No.2 shows that out of 30 girls 03 (10%) respondent had poor knowledge, 26(86.67%) respondent had good knowledge and 1(3.33%) respondent had excellent knowledge.

Association between knowledge and demographic variables type of family, mother’s education, age at menarche, source of information, place of living, attended sex education classes were found to be non significant association with knowledge score. Mother’s education and type of family got significant association with knowledge score

NURSING IMPLICATION:

1) The study helps to improve the knowledge regarding premenstrual syndrome among adolescent girls and thus can help in uplifting image of nursing profession in society. The findings of the study could be utilized to arrange awareness classes for adolescent student so that it will helps to improve knowledge of adolescent girls regarding premenstrual syndrome

2) The nurse administrators can arrange and conduct workshops, conference, in-service education programs on premenstrual syndrome and can arrange community programs on identification of premenstrual syndrome and develop awareness regarding its management.

REFERENCES:

1. Registrar, General and Census commissioner, DHS Data; India 1991-1999

2. Jones WG, Population dynamics and their impact on adolescents in the ESCAP region. Asia-Pacific population Journal. 1997; 12(3): 72-76

3. Greene R, Dalton K. The premenstrual syndrome. The British Medical Journal.1953;1007-14.

Received on 19.01.2023 Modified on 08.02.2023

A and V Pub Int. J. of Nursing and Medical Res. 2023; 2(1):9-12.

DOI: 10.52711/ijnmr.2023.03