A Study to Assess the Knowledge about Reproductive Health among College Girls in a Selected College at Ottapalam, Palakkad District

Abstract

Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. Reproductive health implies that people are able to have satisfying and safe sex and that have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. Reproductive health refers to the condition of male and female reproductive systems during all life stages. These systems are made of organs and hormone-producing glands, including the pituitary gland in the brain. Ovaries in females and testicles in males are reproductive organs, or gonads, that maintain the health of their respective systems. They also function as glands because they produce and release hormones. Statement of the Problem: “A study to assess the knowledge about reproductive health among college girls in a selected college at Ottapalam, Palakkad District.” Objectives of the Study: • To assess the knowledge of college girls about reproductive health. • To find out the association between knowledge score of college girls about reproductive health and selected demographic variables. Method: The design used in this study is one group knowledge test design. A descriptive study was conducted by the administration of a structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the knowledge level regarding reproductive health among college girls. A total of 50 college girls were selected by convenient sampling. A study was conducted among first-year B.Sc. Nursing students of Nehru College of Nursing, Vaniyamkulam, Ottapalam, Palakkad District. Data collection was done on 2nd March 2020 by using a structured knowledge questionnaire. The data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: The knowledge score of college girls regarding reproductive health score was low. The mean knowledge score was 14 out of 25. The mean knowledge score percentage was only 56%. Data shows that the highest percentage (48%) of the college girls had satisfactory knowledge regarding reproductive health. 26% of students had good knowledge and 18% had poor knowledge. Only 8% had excellent knowledge about reproductive health. This reveals that on the whole, the knowledge level of college girls regarding reproductive health was low. All the chi-square values were lesser than that of the tabulated values. The findings indicated that there is no significant association between the knowledge score and selected demographic variables. Interpretation and Conclusion: The knowledge score of college girls regarding reproductive health score was low. The *Author for Correspondence Regina P.F. E-mail: [email protected] 1Principal, Nehru College of Nursing, Vaniyamkulam, Kerala, India 2Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Nehru College of Nursing, Vaniyamkulam, Kerala, India 3Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Nehru College of Nursing, Vaniyamkulam, Kerala, India 4B.Sc. Nursing Student, Nehru College of Nursing, Vaniyamkulam, Kerala, India Received Date: September 28, 2020 Accepted Date: November 25, 2020 Published Date: April 10, 2021 Citation: Tamil Selvi, Regina P.F., Sheeba S., Rincy P.M., Shilu Saju, Rosmy Vincent, Saranya Chandran, Sandra U.S., Rajendran R. A Study to Assess the Knowledge about Reproductive Health among College Girls in a Selected College at Ottapalam, Palakkad District. International Journal of Women Health Nursing. 2021; 4(1): 9–20p.A Study to Assess the Knowledge about Reproductive Health Selvi et al. © JournalsPub 2021. All Rights Reserved 10 findings of the study would help the nurses to develop an insight into the importance of health education regarding reproductive health and its various aspects.