INTRODUCTION:

Adolescence is a period of transition between childhood and adulthood a time of profound biologic, intellectual, psychosocial, and economic change. During this period individuals reach physical and sexual maturation. Precocious puberty currently effects 1 in 5000 children and is 10 times more common in girls ¹.

Statistics indicate that girls in India are maturing at an earlier age then they did 30 years ago and the number of girls with precocious puberty is on the rise. Moreover, 80 % of the adolescent girls and the 90% of mother are unaware of precocious puberty. A number of studies have shown association between obesity and precocious puberty in young girls. Genetic mutations triggering changes due to release of sex hormones are also thought to play a major role in early onset of puberty. Girls undergone precocious puberty are also more prone to get herpes si (Cesario, 2007) mplex 2 virus infections and asthma.

Objectives:

1. To determine the level of knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls(9-11years) at selected school, Jammu.

2. To find out the association between level of knowledge regarding early menarche amongschool going girls (9-11 years) with their selected socio-demographic variables.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:

ASSESS-refers to assess knowledge regarding early menarche.

KNOWLEDGE- refers to the factual information that girls (9-11 years) know aboutearly menarche.

EARLY MENARCHE- menstruation occurs among young girls at the age of (9-11 years)

SCHOOL GOING GIRLS – girls of the age group between (9-11 years)

HYPOTHESIS

H0: There will not be a significant difference between pre and post testknowledge regarding early menarche among young girls at the age of (9-11 years) in experimental and control group.

H1: There is a significant decrease in the level of knowledge regarding early menarche among young girls at the age of (9-11 years).

Projected Outcome:

The study findings would help to assess the knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls (9-11 years). It will help to improve the school going girl’s knowledge regarding early menarche. The finding of demographic variables will help to identify the factors which affect the level of knowledge.

Research Approach:

Quantitative research approach was adopted for this study.

Research Design:

Non experimental, Descriptive research design was adopted in this study.

Population

Target Population:

School going girlsof age group 9-11 years.

Accessible Population:

School going girls of age group 9-11 years studying in selected school in Jammu.

Sample and Sampling Technique:

Sample Technique:

Purposive sampling technique will be used.

Sample Size:

The study will be conducted on 100 school going girls (9-11years)of the selected school.

Criteria for Sampling Technique:

Inclusion Criteria:

School going girls (9-11years) present on the day of data collection.

Exclusion Criteria:

The girls who were not willing to participate are not being the part of study.

Variables

Research Variables:

Research variables were to assess the level of knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls (9-11years).

Socio Demographic Variables:

Socio demographic variables of the study was occupation of head of family, education of head of family, monthly income of the family, religion, residence, type of family, dietary pattern.

Selection and Development of Tool:

Development of an Instrument:

After the intense library search and consultation with experts, a questionnaire is developed to assess the level of knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls (9-11years).

The structured instrument has two parts:

Part I

It consists of 7 questions about demographic profile such as head of family, education of head of family, monthly income of the family, religion, residence, type of family, dietary pattern.

Part II

A well-structured questionnaire which consists of 20 multiple choice questions regarding knowledge onearly menarche.

Scoring Procedure:

Part II

The correct response to each question in Part II about early menarche were given a numerical score. The knowledge will be measured in terms of knowledge score. The questions will be of multiple-choice formats. Each multiple-choice question will carry ‘1’ mark for the correct response and ‘zero’ mark for the wrong response. The total score that can be attained will be ‘20’.

Knowledge score of school going girls (9-11 years) is categorized into 3 levels.

Level of Knowledge Total Score

Good 16-20

Average 11-15

Below average less than or equal to 10

Data Collection Procedure:

Data collection is the gathering information needed to address the research problem. The data will be collected in one week of allotted month; prior permission from the concern authority will be forwarded. The study sample will be selected by purposive sampling method based on sample selection criteria, 100 school going girls (9-11 years)were selected for the study. The objectives and purpose of the study were explained and concerned were obtained from the samples.

Data was collected among 100 school going girls (9-11 years) for a period of one-week, initial rapport were established with the sample. A convenient time and date were fixed and informed to the participant to gather in the allotted classrooms. Questionnaire were distributed. A time limit of 20 minutes was given to complete the questionnaire. All the students were very much cooperative.

Plan for Data Analysis:

The data will be analysed in terms of the objectives of the study using inferential statistics. The plan for data analysis is as follows:

· Organize the data in a master data sheet

· Frequency and percentage of distribution was used to analyze the demographic variables. The frequency and percentage distribution was used to assess the level of knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls (9-11years).

· Chi square was used to assess the association and level of knowledge.

Pilot Study:

The pilot study was conducted at Carmel convent higher secondary school, Kunjwani, Jammu among 10 students to assess the level of knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls (9-11years) and to find out the feasibility of conducting the main study. The structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The time taken to complete tool was found to be satisfactory in terms of simplicity and clarity. The feasibility with regards to the availability of the sample and cooperation of respondents, accessibility of setting and financial requirement was established. Pilot study helped the investigator to confirm the feasibility of carrying out the main study.

Protection of Human Rights:

Research proposal as approved by the dissertation committee prior to the pilot study and the main study permission was sought from the Principal of Carmel convent higher secondary school, Kunjwani, Jammu. A formal consent was obtained from the respondents of the study (school going girls 9-11 years) before administering the questionnaire.

Data Analysis and Interpretation:

The analysis of data is from the sample of 100 school going girls (9-11 years). The findings of the study are presented in this chapter under the following sections.

The data collected were analyzed and presented under the following headings.

· Distribution school going girls (9-11 years) based on their demographic variables.

· Distribution of school going girls (9-11 years) based on their level of knowledge regarding early menarche.

· Distribution of school going girls (9-11 years) based on association between knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls(9-11 years) with their selected socio- demographic variables.

DISCUSSION:

The responses were analyzed through descriptive measures and inferential statistics. Discussion on the findings is arranged in the order of the objectives of the study.

Objective: 1 To determine the level of knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls (9-11years).

The present study states that out of 100 samples 82 students had below average 17 had average knowledge and 1 had good knowledge regarding early menarche. The present study finding revealed that majority of the participants has poor knowledge regarding early menarche.

Objective: 2 To find out the association between level of knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls (9-11years) with their selected socio-demographic variables.

The result of the present study concluded that the income of the families was found significant with the level of knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls (9-11years). However, other socio-demographic variables i.e., occupation, education, religion, structure of family, habitat, dietary pattern were found to be statistically non-significant.

Findings of the present study were supported by “assessment of knowledge among school going girls (9-11years)”; study concluded that school going girls education regarding early menarche is highly significant. However, the socio-demographic variables (occupation, education, religion, structure of family, habitat, dietary pattern) were found to be statistically nonsignificant except income which was found to be statistically significant.

CONCLUSION:

The main study concludes, the existing level of knowledge among 100samples was that, 1(1%) had good knowledge, 17(17%) had average knowledge and 82(82%) had below average knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls (9-11 years). Finally the investigator assures that, every school going girl(9-11years) who has taken part in the study will be of more help to others for giving knowledge regarding early menarche among school going girls (9-11years).

IMPLICATIONS:

The findings of the study have several implications in following fields. It can be discussed on areas namely nursing practice, nursing education, nursing administration and nursing research.

Implications of Nursing Practice

1. This study findings will encourage community health nurse and school health nurse to create awareness regarding early menarche.

2. Nurse should prepare pamphlets on early menarche, causes of early menarche and complications of early menarche to educate school going girls.

3. This study will also encourage the psychiatric nurses to arrange counselling session to educate school going girls.

4. This study findings will help community health nurse to eradicate taboos related to early menarche among the society

Implications of Nursing Education:

1. The study emphasizes the need for educating nursing personnel by incorporating in the school health programme for early menarche under continuing education to update their knowledge regarding early menarche.

2. Different methods of teaching can be used by the nursing personnel to teach school going girls regarding early menarche.

3. The study emphasizes the need for dietary modifications in the attempt to prevent early menarche

Implications in Nursing Administration

1. The study emphasizes on staff development welfare programme for the female employees especially who are the mothers of daughters of age group(9-11)years, to make them aware of the scenario of early menarcheearly menarche.

2. Different methods of teaching can be used by the nursing personnel to teach school going girls regarding early menarche.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. A similar study can be undertaken with large number of samples which might lead to generalization.

2. A similar study can be conducted as a comparative study between rural and urban girls.

3. A similar study can be conducted in other geographical region.

4. An experimental study can be carried out using structured teaching programme

REFERENCES:

1. Cesario, S. K. (2007). Precocious puberty: a comprehensive review of literature. pub med .

Received on 01.07.2021 Modified on 11.12.2021

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2022; 10(2):109-112.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2660.2022.00025