Awareness of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome among College Going Females in Gurgaon: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Objectives  Women not only take care of family members, they are also source of power and symbol of progress in a society. At the same time, physical and mental well-being of women relies on healthy lifestyle and adequate reproductive health knowledge. With growing incidence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), it is crucial to increase awareness about the disease among women at an early age in life. The present survey investigates awareness level of college going females about PCOS. Materials and Methods  428 females were recruited from 3 colleges in district Gurgaon, Haryana, India, based on convenience sampling. The respondents filled a self-completion questionnaire containing sociodemographic details, menstrual cycle details, and questions related to PCOS. Statistical Analysis  Descriptive statistics was used to calculate frequency and percentage of variables. Pearson's chi-square test of independence was used to identify factors associated with awareness of PCOS. A p -value of < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results  The mean ±SD age of respondents was 19.9 ± 1.7 years (range = 18–24 years). Only 78 females (18.22%) had heard about PCOS. Being knowledgeable was significantly associated with mother's education ( p  = 0.001), length of menstrual cycle ( p  = 0.022), and family history of PCOS ( p  < 0.001). Conclusion  The present study indicates awareness of PCOS among college going females was very poor. There is an urgent need of increasing awareness about PCOS among young adult college going females not only for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of the disease but also to prevent its long-term consequences.