Effectiveness of information, education and communication package on knowledge and expressed practice regarding management of primary dysmenorrhea among adolescent girls

A pre experimental study to determine the effectiveness of Information, education, communication package on knowledge and expressed practice regarding management of primary dysmenorrhea among adolescent girls at Girls Higher Secondary School in srirangam during the year of 2010-2011 OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge regarding the management of primary dysmenorrhea before and after IEC. To assess the expressed practices regarding the management of primary dysmenorrhea before and after IEC. To determine the relationship between knowledge and expressed practice regarding management of primary dysmenorrhoea. To find out the association of knowledge on management of primary dysmenorrhoea with selected background variables. To find out the association of expressed practices on management of primary dysmenorrhoea with selected background variables. Conceptual Frame Work : Pender N. Health Promotion Model Research Design : Pre experimental design O1 x O2 Population / Sample : Adolescents girls. Sample Size : 30 Adolescent Girls. Sampling : Non probability convenience sampling. Setting : Girls Higher Secondary School, srirangam. Tool : Knoweledge and expressed questionnaire. Data Collection Pretest was given for 30 minutes to each adolescents and IEC was given to participants for 45 minutes. Then posttest was conducted after one month to assess the knowledge and expressed practice. Data Analysis Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (paired ‘t’ test and chi square test) was used to test the research hypothesis. Significant Finding The knowledge and expressed practice of adolescents with primary dysmenorrhoea was inadequate during pretest. The study showed that IEC package was effective in improving knowledge and expressed practice on management of primary dysmenorrhoea with adolescents girls. There was a significant difference in the pre-test and post-test knowledge and expressed practices score which was significant at 0.05 level. There was a significant difference in the mean post test scores knowledge and expressed practice which was a significant at 0.05 level.There was a significant positive correlation between the post test knowledge and post test expressed practice scores. There was a significant association between background variables such as age,educational status of the mother,residence with knowledge and there was significant association between age,educational status of the mother,income of the family, residence. Conclusion The study showed that IEC was effective in increasing the knowledge and expressed practice of adolescent girls regarding primary dysmenorrhoea management. There was a positive correlation between the pretest and post test level of knowledge and expressed practice. Nurses are often asked for advice about dysmenorrhoea and are in an ideal position in their role as health educators and health promoters to offer suggestions for self-help. Patients should be informed that dysmenorrhoea is a treatable condition and that the prognosis for primary dysmenorrhoea is good