Mothers Literacy and Support: Puberty Health in Their Adolescent Girls
M. Alavi1, J. Rafinejad2, R. Noot3, M. Eftekhari4 and A. Chinekesh5*1Research Expert, MS, Center for Development and Cooperation of Research and Technology, Undersecretary for Research and Technology, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
2Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and Center for Development and Cooperation of Research and Technology, Undersecretary for Research and Technology, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
3Research Expert, R.N., BSN, Undersecretary for Research and Technology, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran. Iran.
4Researcher, Student of PhD by Research, Center for Development and Cooperation of Research and Technology, Undersecretary for Research and Technology, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and Social Determinant of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences Tehran, Iran.
5Research Expert, MS, Center for Development and Cooperation of Research and Technology, Undersecretary for Research and Technology, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: Puberty is a transitional opportunity not to be missed and is accompanied with physical, Psychological and emotional changes. The aim of this study was to obtain the relationships between the level of mothers’ literacy and feelings and experiences during puberty on teenage girls. This study took place in Tehran among teenage students. For this Cross-Sectional study through Cluster random sampling the total number of 386 female students were selected. Three research structured questionnaires in the fields of physical, psychological and social health measured the knowledge, attitude and behavior of adolescent girls, were done. Data was described and analyzed by using descriptive and analytical statistics. The average age of the subjects under study is 13.5 years old and the mean age at menarche was 12.5 years. Generally, 50% of the students had extensive knowledge and have more positive attitude towards health and puberty. Majority of the girls (79%) can completely define the meaning of puberty and its associated changes. 37% these students believed that it is a physiological phenomenon and about 46% considered this matter undesirable. Approximately 10% of these students experienced fear during menarche. Majority of the students’ performance regarding adolescent’s health were relatively excellent while one third of these students have excellent performance on this matter. Mothers were considered the most important source in providing the information and counseling and approximately two third of these girls have informed their mother first regarding their menarche before any others. This study showed that considering the mothers’ role in providing information and experiences in the field of adolescent health, mother’s education is still considered as a necessity to improve school literacy as well as health literacy.
Keywords: Adolescent health; Adolescent girls; Mothers’ literacy Back to TOC