The New Indian Journal of OBGYN. 12(1):121-125

Reproductive health related knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) among adolescent girls in a rural area in North India

Madhulika Mishra, Anjana Agarwal

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of the study was to learn about the knowledge, attitudes and practices of reproductive health and its gap among school going adolescent girls of rural area of Barabanki. Methods: This cross-sectional study done from April 2018 to May 2019 in which 550 girls were encouraged to participate. Adolescent school going girls aged 13-19 years were included. A pretested questionnaire was administered and data analyzed using SPSS software 23. Results: About 61.5% of the adolescents had correct knowledge about the female reproductive organ, about 63.7% had correct knowledge about puberty signs in girls, 89.5%, 66.8% & 60.4% girls had correct knowledge about cause of menstruation, source of menstrual blood and menstrual blood discharge site respectively; mostly (90.6%) had correct knowledge about appropriate age for marriage. Conclusions: The present study revealed that the knowledge about menstrual cycle is found to be very poor with the majority of the adolescents did not have correct knowledge about puberty, pregnancy and childbirth, family planning methods, STDs, and request for treatment.