Evaluating puberty health program effect on knowledge increase among female intermediate and high school students in Birjand, Iran

BACKGROUND Puberty is one of the most critical periods in a female adolescents' life. This intervening study aimed to evaluate the effect of educational program for puberty health on improving intermediate and high school female students' knowledge in Birjand, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this quasi-experimental study, 325 female intermediate and high school students were selected through randomized cluster sampling during several stages. Then, researcher-made questionnaire including 20 questions, each having one point regarding puberty health, was distributed. After completion of the questionnaires were gathered. Following this, under a systemic educational plan all intermediate and high school selected students were given the same instruction by trained instructors. Instruction time for each meeting was estimated 1.5 hours. One month after the educational program and handing out the pamphlets in schools, the previous questionnaires were again distributed among the students to fill out. At the end, 302 students who had filled out the questionnaires before and after intervention were studied. RESULTS Out of 302 students, 151 were intermediate and 151 high school students. Knowledge level among intermediate students was 5.03 ± 3.7 before intervention and was 10.8 ± 4.8 after intervention. Among high school students, the scores were 4.1 ± 2.3 and 8.7 ± 3.8, respectively. There was a significant difference between pre and post intervention stages in both groups (P < 0.001). Furthermore, mean knowledge grade in all the students increased from 4.6 ± 3.1 before intervention to 9.7 ± 4.4 after intervention (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Performing educational programs during puberty has a crucial role in young girls' knowledge increase. Since young girls often do not share their problems with their parents and their peers during the period, instructional classes in schools provide a good opportunity for them to present their problems and finding solutions.