Knowledge and attitude about pubertal health and their socio-demographic predictors in Iranian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a critical period and is associated with physical and psycho-social changes induced by puberty, which builds personality, behavior, and future health of the adolescents. This study aimed to determine the adolescent's knowledge and attitude toward pubertal health and his/her socio-demographic predictors.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 1017 adolescent girls who were in the second and third grades of secondary schools in Tabriz, Iran, in 2013. The sampling method was random. The general linear model was used to determine the social-demographic predictors of the adolescent's knowledge and attitude about pubertal health.

RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) score of knowledge and attitude was 53.2 (13.7) and 66.7 (11.5), respectively (from an attainable score range of 0-100). The variables of educational level, economic status, household members, obtaining information about the puberty, and age of menarche were predictors of knowledge. Educational level, the most feeling at menarche, and source of the most information about puberty were predictors of attitude (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study show that the knowledge and attitude of adolescents about pubertal health are moderate. Thus, it is necessary to educate the girls about pubertal health to enable them to have a healthy reproductive life in the future.