Abstract

Adolescence is a period of enormous physical and psychological change for young girls. Many adolescents with menstrual disturbances never present to their family doctor or gynaecologist. Embarrassment about discussing menstruation, fear of disease, and ignorance about sexual health and services available may lead to delayed presentation or consultation with doctor.

Aims and Objective: (1) To study about the awareness and problems among adolescent girls attending the gynaecological clinic in a tertiary hospital. (2) To evaluate the different gynecological problems in adolescent girls attending outpatient department.

Results: There were a total of 500 adolescent girls attending the gynaecology OPD at Kasturba Gandhi hospital, Madras medical college Chennai during the study period. Menstrual complaints were the commonest indication for OPD consultation among adolescent girls. 22% had dysmenorrhoea,31% had DUB,13% had leucorrhoea as their primary symptom and 3.8% presented with primary amenorrhoea. Anaemia was the major health issue seen among 60% of the adolescents. Literacy rate among adolescent girls was 91.6%.Violent situations were seen in among 2.6% of adolescent families. Regarding awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, 90% of the adolescents were aware of STD. The percentage of pregnancy among adolescents was 43.2%.Only 26% of married adolescents and 20% of adolescents who were not married were aware about the various methods of contraception.

Conclusion: Adolescent girls with menorrhagia need to be evaluated thoroughly earlier rather than later so that effective management can be started and severe anaemia with its consequences can be avoided. Adolescent health education and group discussion is needed to create awareness regarding adolescent gynaecological problems and protect themselves from all health and social hazards; it should be conducted regularly in schools and colleges. Starting newer programmes to strengthen the bonding between the adolescence to their families prevents mental, physical and social hazards is the need of the hour.

Keywords: Adolescence, reproductive health.