INTERVENTIONAL STUDY ON AWARENESS ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AMONG SCHOOL-GOING ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN MAHARASHTRA

Background: Adolescence, a critical developmental phase, poses challenges exacerbated by cultural taboos, impacting reproductive health education and services. This interventional study aims to assess baseline awareness levels and evaluate the impact of a structured intervention program on enhancing knowledge about menstrual hygiene and contraceptive measures among adolescent girls, ultimately contributing to evidence-based policies promoting adolescent well-being in Maharashtra. Methods: It was an interventional study consisting of a pre-intervention test, reproductive health educational intervention session and post-intervention test conducted among 750 school-going adolescent girls in Maharashtra. Results: There was a statistically signicant increase in awareness levels of the study participants across all domains of reproductive health, including menstruation, pregnancy and contraceptives (p<0.05), following the reproductive health educational intervention. Conclusion: The study highlights the signicant enhancement in awareness about reproductive health, menstrual hygiene and contraceptives among school-going adolescent girls in Maharashtra following the intervention program, advocating for the integration of comprehensive reproductive health education into school curricula to foster informed and healthy individuals.