Effect of Structured Awareness Programme on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) among Adolescent Girls

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of structured awareness program on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), to create awareness on PCOS, to find out high risk adolescents for PCOS and to co-relate clinical symptoms of PCOS with biochemical tests. BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a gynaecological endocrine disorder affecting females in reproductive age and is most commonly seen in adolescent girls. Females with PCOS might have problems like irregular menstruation, obesity, acne, hirsutism, hyperinsulinemia etc., due to hyperandrogenemia which results in oligovulation/anovulation. PCOS is one of lifestyle disorder which can be preventable. Though the incidence of PCOS is rapidly increasing, the adolescent girls are unaware and have inadequate knowledge about PCOS and its complications. Hence this study focuses in evaluating the knowledge of PCOS and provides an awareness program which helps to recognize high risk individuals. METHODOLOGY: The present study is an observational study conducted among 300 adolescent girls aged between 14-18years. Adolescent girls were given structured awareness program. High risk adolescents were screened by using Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ) after giving awareness program. All the adolescents with the age 14-18years are included in this study and adolescent girls who are seriously ill and those who are not willing to participate are excluded from the study. RESULT: The present study findings showed that among 300 adolescent girls, 96.3% were not aware of PCOS. PCOSQ findings revealed that 32% had irregular menstrual cycle, 26.3% had hirsutism and 13.2% had weight gain. On whole, statistical results of present study revealed the prevalence rate of PCOS is about 12.3% and we also identified 10.3% high risk girls and 23.3% low risk girls for developing PCOS.