Knowledge regarding Pubertal Changes among Adolescent Girls of Rural and Slum Areas in Meerut U.P. India: A Comparative Study

Background: India has highest number of adolescent populations 253 million, every fifth person in India is adolescent. During puberty adolescent experience physical, emotional and hormonal changes and response to those changes varies person to person. Lack of knowledge regarding pubertal changes gives a thought of changed body image among females and further leads to depression and causes low self-esteem. Aim: Aim of the study was to compare the knowledge regarding pubertal changes among adolescent girls in the selected rural and slum areas. Material and methods: A comparative study was done to conduct this study. Total 100 adolescent girls between 10-19 years 50 from rural area and 50 from slum area of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India enrolled using convenient sampling technique. Self-developed knowledge questionnaire regarding pubertal changes among adolescent girls was used to assess the knowledge. Results: The mean age of the participants from rural area was 14.46±3.01 while slum area was 14.18±2.4. The mean knowledge score of adolescent girls from rural area was 15.80±1.90 while slum area girls was 11.64±2.8. Majority of participants from rural areas had adequate knowledge while among slum areas participants majority had moderately adequate knowledge level. A statistically significant difference was found between mean knowledge score of rural and slum areas (t=9.33, p<0.001). Conclusion: Awareness program should be organized in slum areas and emphasis should be done on improving knowledge level regarding pubertal changes, menstrual hygiene among female of all reproductive ages.