Physical growth puberty and associated problems among school girls
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Date
2010
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UAS, Dharwad
Abstract
A study on “Physical Growth, Puberty and Associated Problems among School Girls”
was under taken in year 2009-2010. Multistage method was used in selecting sample;
constituted 384 school girls in the age of 9-15 years, from two urban and two rural schools of
Dharwad and Khurda Districts of Karnataka and Orissa. The data on physical growth,
puberty, factors affecting physical growth & menstruation and information about menses was
collected with the help of schedule.
Height and weight of girls of both districts was less than NCHS (50th percentile) and
ICMR standards. The quantum of increase in height and weight was more between 11 to 12
years (4.86 cm) and 12to 13 years (4.95 kg) respectively, compared to other ages indicating
the growth spurt of girls. More number (68.0%) of girls from both regions was malnourished.
Among different categories of malnutrition, more number (29.43%) of girls were in short
duration malnutrition category closely followed by long duration (26.82%) malnutrition.
Age, nutritional status, food habit, participation of sports activities and parental factors such
as education, occupation and income had significantly related with physical growth.
Regarding pubertal changes, the mean age of breast, pubic hair, auxiliary hair and
menarche was found 10.51, 11.83, 12.62 and 12.45 years respectively. Girls with normal
nutritional status, non-vegetarian food habit, medium income, other backward caste and small
size family attained menarche significantly at earlier age. High level of participation in sports
activities significantly delayed the attainment of menarche.
More number of girls reported problems such as abdominal pain, back ache, feeling
tired, irritation, depression and drowsiness during menstruation. Majority of girls reported
that they were scared followed by discomfort and indifferent feelings towards their first
menstruation.
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Human Development