How young female adolescents understand their pubertal body changes and reproductive system

Abstract

Purpose: This study explored young female adolescents' understanding of pubertal body changes and knowledge of their reproductive system. Method: Female students in grades seven, eight and nine were recruited from eight junior high schools in Kupang. Body mapping was conducted together with a semi-structured interview. Data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Result: Participants listed their pubertal body changes and then located the female reproductive system on body maps. Participants aware the changes in their five body areas and could name one or two organs in the female reproductive system but they were unable to locate them on the body maps. Conclusion: The study identified a gap in young female adolescents' knowledge about the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system. This study provides evidence on the value of using the body mapping exercise in conjunction with semi-structured interviews in research with young female adolescents on a sensitive topic.

Effect of Educational Intervention on Pubertal Changes among Adolescent School Girls in the Rural Areas of Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh, India

“…The findings of the present study is supported by results of a study done by Deshmukh et al [16] and Sandhya and Panthee [5] who found poor pretest knowledge among adolescents regarding growing up which improved significantly after the intervention. This validates the point that if a better understanding of the changes occurring during puberty is developed, it will help in laying good foundation for the reproductive health, especially for girls [20]. Also a review study by Bhanu and Anuradha [21] revealed that adolescent girls should be equipped with the right information regarding pubertal changes, which would eventually leads to better reproductive health as well as future motherhood.…”