Do teenage girls understand premenstrual syndrome?

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common condition among adolescent girls and is characterized by physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms that occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Inadequate knowledge regarding PMS may lead to misconceptions, delayed recognition of symptoms, and inappropriate self-management practices. Assessing the level of knowledge among adolescents is essential for planning effective health education interventions. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 adolescent girls studying in a selected higher secondary school in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire consisting of demographic variables and 20 knowledge-based questions related to PMS. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) were used for data analysis. Results: Most participants (70.0%) were aged 15-17 years, 75.0% were Hindu, 55.0% belonged to joint families, and 70.0% were science students. Overall, 53.3% of participants demonstrated adequate knowledge regarding PMS, 38.3% had good knowledge, and 8.3% had average knowledge. Monthly family income showed a statistically significant association with knowledge scores, whereas age, religion, type of family, stream of study, marital status, and source of information were not significantly associated. Conclusion: The findings indicate that although most adolescent girls possessed adequate knowledge regarding PMS, important knowledge gaps remain. School-based reproductive health education programs and awareness initiatives may help improve understanding of PMS and promote appropriate menstrual health practices among adolescents.

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