THE EFFECT OF COUNSELING ON KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF PUBERTY HEALTH AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS LIVING IN WELFARE BOARDING CENTERS

The purpose of this study was to improve level of knowledge, attitude and practice of puberty health among adolescent girls living in welfare boarding centers, Hamadan, Iran. This research was applied in terms of its nature and purpose. This quasi-experimental interventional study recruited all eligible 12-19-year-old girls residents (n=30) of the boarding centers affiliated to the Welfare Organization, Hamadan city, Iran. The data collection tool was questionnaires that three times (before, immediately and one month after Intervention) were used. Data using descriptive and inferential statistical methods using SPSS-20 software was analyzed. P-value was considered significant if it was less than 0.05. The results showed that knowledge, attitude and practice in immediately and a month after the intervention at over time compared to before the intervention significantly increased (P<0.001).The present study concluded that adolescents lacked appropriate knowledge, attitude and practices about puberty in the pre-program phase. After implementation of the program considerable improvements were noticed in adolescent girls' knowledge, attitude and practice. Therefore the educational program was successful in attaining its aims of positively changing the knowledge, attitude and practice of puberty health. Development of Teaching program for health care providers who take care of adolescent girls at girls living in welfare boarding centers about issues related to puberty and reproductive health. Keywords: Counseling, puberty health, Adolescent girls