A comparative study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge, attitude and practice regarding menarche and menstrual management among school girls in selected urban and rural schools at Coimbatore

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of my study was to assess the average age at menarche, assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme, compare and associate the knowledge, attitude and practice between rural and urban school girls. DESIGN: The quasi experimental pre test and post test design. SAMPLING TECHNIQUE: Non probability purposive sampling technique. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: modified weidenbach’s theory of helping art of clinical nursing. TOOL FOR DATA COLLECTION: Structured self administered questionnaire to assess the knowledge, likert scale to assess the attitude, checklist to assess the practice. INTERVENTION: LCD teaching was given to both schools after pre test assessment. RESULTS: In rural school the average age at menarche was 12.11 and in the urban school 12.12 and it shows girls attained menarche at minimum age of 10 yrs. The paired t test value of pre test and post test of urban and rural school shows highly significant at p < 0.01 regarding knowledge, attitude and practice. The comparison between rural and urban school shows that it was significant in pre test of knowledge, attitude and practice but post test shows that there was no significant difference between post test attitude and practice. The association of rural school shows that there was significant association between types of family, BMI, family income at p < 0.05. In urban school there was no significant association between family incomes and there was significant association between types of family, BMI at p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: The study concluded after teaching programme there were a marked difference between the knowledge, attitude and practice among rural and urban school girls regarding menstrual management. The study highlights that as professionals we have to conduct this kind of school health programme to ensure the quality of health