Effectiveness of Information, Education and Communication Package on Knowledge regarding Sexual Awareness among Adolescent Girls at Selected Schools in Kanniyakumari District

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY: Adolescent is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood, a time of rapid physical, social, sexual and emotional maturation. Most adolescents deal with these changes without adequate knowledge and understanding which could cause issues such as, teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse, unhealthy sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS. The nurses have an enabling role to help the adolescent to increase knowledge on sexual awareness by using IEC package. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the effectiveness of information education and Communication package on knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls at selected schools in Kanyakumari District. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Quasi experimental pre-test post-test control group design was adopted. The sample size consisted of 100 adolescent girls, 50 in experimental group and 50 in control group. The conceptual frame work is based on Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model. Purposive sampling technique was adopted. Demographic data and structured questionnaire on sexual awareness was used data collection. IEC was given for 30 minutes, once a week for 4 weeks. RESULT: In experimental group 52% of adolescent girls had inadequate awareness. After providing IEC package, no one had inadequate awareness and 100% had adequate awareness. There was a significant improvement in mean post test awareness score 20.08 in experimental group (MD = 12.36, t value =18.76 p<.000). The mean post-test level of awareness score 20.08 among adolescent girls in experimental group was greater than the mean post test level of awareness score 8.56 among adolescent girls in Control group (MD =11.52 t, =21.77 p<.000). CONCLUSION: The study proved that IEC programme is an effective teaching strategy in improving the knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls