A Study On Psychosocial Health Problems Among

Adolescent Girls In Urban Area

* H. K. G. Singh, ** Madhavi L. H.
*Department of Pediatrics, ** Department of Community Medicine ,
KBNIMS, Roz-B, Gulbarga

Abstract

Introduction:

Background: Adolescent age group is

characterized by rapid biopsychosocial changes
where socio-demographic factors affect her
health. Adolescent girls are not only the health
of future citizens but also the future mothers of
the nation.

Adolescent-girl health determines the health of

future generation. Adolescence age group is
period of rapid complex changing process of
emotional, physical and social maturation
leading to functional independence into adult
life.

Objective: 1) To find out the health problems

among adolescent girls. 2) To study the social
problems among adolescent girls.

Health of adolescent depends on their own

behavior, family, society, mass media
communication, their peers and other adults
with whom they interact. Many of the
behavioral, psychological factors influencing
the health of adult have their origin in the
adolescence, one of the reasons why this period
of life is now receiving greater attention from
the community.

Method: A community based cross-sectional

study was carried out among 238 adolescent
girls aged 15-19 years in field practice area of
Urban Health Training Center community of
Gulbarga during April 2002 to July 2002.
Variables considered for the study were: Age,
anemia, menstrual problems, social problems,
behavioral and psychological problems.
Result: The study showed the prevalence of
anemia was 57.14%. Anxiety neurosis was
noticed among 5.46% girls. Most common
menstrual problem was dysmenorrhea
(28.57%) followed by menorrhgia (0.42%).
Adolescent girls are mostly neglected because :they are not the future earning member of
family(4.20%); dependence during old
age(1.26%); girls are considered as parayadhan
(1.26%) and stigma of being born as girl child
(2.52%). The commonest cause of school
dropout(58.82%) was to take care of younger
sibling, poverty, menarche, marriage , domestic
work etc. Conclusion: Strengthen the Kishore
Shakti Yojana activities.
Key words: Adolescent girl, anemia,
depression.

Corresponding Author : Dr. H. K. G. Singh

36

Professor and HOD, Dept of Pediatrics, K.B.N.I.MS, Gulbarga

Obstacles to adolescent health are inadequate

level of understanding of health needs, lack of
training among health care provider resulting in
negative attitude towards adolescents and
insufficient interpersonal communication skill
in working with young people. Most of the
services are designed for either adult or
children and are often quite inaccessible to
adolescents. Lack of coherence in policy and
legislation regarding how the information and
services can be provided to adolescents
including matters regarding confidentiality and
consent.
The present study was planned to find out the
health problems among adolescent girls in
urban area of Gulbarga.

Aim:
To study the different aspects of health
problems of adolescent girls at urban field
practice area of Urban Health Training Centre
Gulbarga.
Objective:
1.

To find out the health problems among

adolescent girls

2.

To study the social problems of adolescent

girls.

Material and methods:

Community based cross-sectional study was
carried out among 15-19 years adolescent age
group girls in urban field practice area coming
under the jurisdiction of Urban Health Training
Centre at Gulbarga form April 2002 to July 2002.
The population of Urban Health Training Centre
field practice was 3006. A detailed house to
house survey was done. A total of 238
adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years residing in
the study area were selected and studied.
To ensure cooperation the study subjects were
explained in full detail the purpose and
objective of the study. They were reassured that
the information gathered would be maintained
as strictly confidential. The information was
collected in the pre-designed, pretested, semi
structured interview schedule and clinical
examination was done.
Data was collected on age at menarche,
menstrual problem and social problems
etc.Validity of social problems were cross
checked by asking questions to parents and
grand parents. Hemoglobin examination was
carried out by the Sahlis method. Study subjects
1
with < 12 gms was considered as anemic .
Results:
Out of 238 adolescent girls studied overall
prevalence of anemia was found to be

136(57.14%) based on the criteria of Hb < 12

gms%. Adolescent girls 68(69.23%) of this area
were free from menstrual problems and only
73(30.67%) adolescent girls had menstrual
problems. Most common menstrual problem
was dysmenorrhea 68(28.57%) followed by
menorrhagia 4(1.68%) and oligomenorrhoea 1
(0.42%). Finding of the behavioral and
psychological problem of adolescent girls
revealed that 5(2.10%) were suffering from
depression. Anxiety neurosis and insomnia was
present among 13 (5.46%) and 06(2.52%)
respectively .Suicidal tendency was present
among 03(1.26%) adolescent girls. Addiction to
gutkha supari, tobacco like product was present
among 5(2.10%) girls. (Table I)
Table I: Distribution of study population
according to health problems
Health Problem
study population (n=238) no
1 Anemia
136
2 Menstrual Problem
Menorrhagia
04
Dysmenorrhoea
68
Oligomenorrhoea
01
3 Behavioral and Psychological Problem
Anxiety neurosis
13
Depression
5
Suicidal Tendency
03
Insomnia
06
Addiction
05

%
57.14
1.68
28.57
0.42
5.46
2.10
1.26
2.52
2.10

Adolescent girls going to school were

98(41.18%). High school drop-out rate among
adolescent girl was 140(58.82%). It was due to
the following reasons,: 1) adolescent girls were
bestowed with the responsibility of younger
siblings 2) domestic work 3) poverty 4)
ignorance 5) menarche 6) marriage, etc.
Number of adolescent girls married were
75(31.51%) and 10 (4.20%) adolescent girl
were neglected by family member the reason of
negligence were male as future earning person
10(4.20%), stigma of born as a girl 6(2.52%),
girl as paraya dhan and dependence during old
age 3(1.26%).(Table ll)

37

Table II: Distribution of study population

according to social problems
Social Problem
study population (n=238) No.
%
1 Reason for neglecting female children
Girl as paraya dhan
03
1.26
Male as future earning person
10
4.20
Dependence during old age
03
1.26
Born as a girl
06
2.52
2 School drop out
140
58.82
3 Married
75
31.51

Discussion:
The present study was a cross-sectional study
carried out in an urban community of Gulbarga
city of Karnataka State. Adolescent girls between
238 between age group 15-19 years constituted
the study group. The main aim was to find out the
health and social problem among them. The
finding revealed that off the 238 study subjects,
136 (57.14%) were anemic 75 (31.51%) married
and 140(58.82%) had left the school
In the present study 165(69.33%) had normal
menstrual cycle and menstrual problems were
faced by 73(30.67%) adolescent girls. Most
common menstrual problem was
dysmenorrhoea 68(28.57%) followed by
menorrhagia 4(1.68%) and oligomenorraghia
2
1(0.42%) .Sing MM, Devi R. Gupta S. S . observed
in their study that commonest reported
menstrual problem was dysmenorrhoea
(40.7%).
In the current study 75(31.51%) girls were
married. Similar finding was reported in the
3
study done by Qumarun Nahar et. al (25%). The
reasons for early marriage as mentioned by
family members was that the girl child was
considered to be paraya dhan and age at
menarche, therefore it was the major
responsibility of elders in the family to get
adolescent girl married early.
The study finding shows that the overall
prevalence of anemia was 136 (57.14%). It was
due to adolescent spurt of growth, menstrual loss
and other reasons diet, personal hygiene etc.

38

Similar finding was reported by Shahabuddin A.

K. et. al4 in his study in Bangladesh, which showed
98% of girls were anemic.
In the present study most common problem
faced by adolescent was anxiety neurosis
13(5.46%) followed by insomnia 6(2.52%),
depression 5 (%), suicidal tendency 3(1.26%)
and addiction 5(2.10%) to tobacco gutkha etc.
Conclusion and recommendation:
The present study revealed a higher prevalence
of anemia (57.14%) , school drop out (58.82%),
anxiety neurosis (5.46%) and early marriage
(31.51%) in girls less then 19 years age group .
This is a great public health problem which could
be addressed through distribution of IFA tablet
and strengthening the IEC activities. These
activities should be targeted towards adolescent
girls health educating them the importance of
adolescent health care. Kishore Shakti Yojana
which is directed towards adolescent health
should be strengthened. A positive attitude of the
parents towards adolescent girls should
motivate the adolescent girls to develop the
trust and confidence in them in their family
society andultimately become confident as the
future mother of nation. Adolescent girls should
be counseled regarding anxiety neurosis and
school dropout.
References:
1. A. H.Suryakantha: Nutrition and health partll chapter15: Community Medicine with
recent advances. First edition2009.
2. Sing M. M, Devi R.,Gupta S. S: Awareness and
health seeking behavior of rural adolescent
school girl on menstrual and reproductive
health problems: Indian Journal of Medical
Science Oct-1999;53(10).
3. Qumarun Nahar et al: Reproductive needs in
Bangladesh: A case report.
Htt.www.icddr.org/mchr/working/wp199
9.
4. Shahabuddin A. K. et al: adolescent nutrition
in a rural community in Bangladesh: Indian
Journal of Pediatric:2000;67(2).