Spectrum of reproductive health problems for which adolescent girls seek consultation in hospital based adolescent clinic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20151128Keywords:
Adolescent girls, Menstrual irregularity, Dysmenorrhea, Menorrhagia, Vaginal dischargeAbstract
Background: Adolescent girls in India are usually shy and hesitant in discussing reproductive health issues. Gradually this trend is changing with more adolescent girls seeking consultation in hospitals for these issues. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the reproductive health problems for which adolescent girls seek consultation in the adolescent clinic of Gynaecology department at a medical college hospital.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of Adolescent clinic records was carried out at a medical college hospital in central India. The Gynaecology outpatient based Adolescent clinic records were analyzed for the presenting symptoms of girls attending this clinic over a period of two years (1st January 2013 to 31st December 2014).
Results: A total of 1541 adolescent girls sought care in the Adolescent clinic of the Gynecology over the two year period. Of these, the majority consulted for menstrual irregularity (31%). The other reason for consultation was pain abdomen (18.8%), white discharge per vaginum (10.7%), dysmenorrhea (8.6%), urinary symptoms (5.6%), etc.
Conclusions: The predominant health concern for which the adolescent girls seek consultation in hospital is menstrual irregularity besides dysmenorrhea and white discharge. Many of these issues can be addressed in adolescent school health education programs and may help alleviate the anxiety of young girls.References
Kulkarni MV, Durge PM. Reproductive health morbidities among adoelscent girls: breaking the silence. Ethno Med. 2011;5(3):165-8.
Joshi BN, Chauhan SL, Donde UM, Tryambake VH, Gaikwad NS, Bhadoriya V. Reproductive health problems and help seeking behavior among adolescents in urban India. Indian J Pediatr. 2006;73:509-13.
Government of India. Census of India. Registrar General of India. 2011. Available from: http://www.censusindia.gov.in.
Nath A, Garg S. Adolescent friendly health services in India: A need of the hour. Indian J Med Sci. 2008;62(11):465-72.
Chan SS, Yiu KW, Yuen PM, Sahota DS, Chung TK Menstrual problems & health seeking behaviour in Hongkong Chinese girls. Hongkong Med J. 2009;15(1):18-23.
Chung PW, Chan SS, Yiu KW, Lao TH, Chung TK. Menstrual disorders in a pediatric & adolescent gynecology clinical patient presentation & longitudinal outcome. Hongkong Med J. 2011;17(5):391-7.
Sharma A, Taneja DK, Sharma P, Saha R. Problems related to menstruation and their effect on daily routine of students of a medical college in Delhi, India. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2008;20(3):234-41.
Nag RM. Adolescent in India. Calcutta: Medical Allied Agency. 1982:18-26.
Singh MM, Devi R, Gupta SS. Awareness and health seeking behaviour of rural adolescent school girls on menstrual and reproductive health problems. Indian J Med Sci. 1999;53(10):439-43.
Sivagurunathan C, Umadevi R, Gopalakrishnan. Adolescent health: Present status Present status and its related programmes in India. Are we in the right direction? Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2015;9(3):LE01-6.
