A Study On Psychosocial Health Problems Among Adolescent Girls In Urban Area

Abstract 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. Objective: 1) To find out the health problems among adolescent girls . 2) To study the social problems among adolescent girls. 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 & 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%) & 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.