INTRODUCTION:

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social and spiritual wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Wellness is the condition in which an individual functions at optimum levels. Adolescence is a time for developing independence¹. Therefore, good physical and mental health of and adolescents makes good health in adulthood. This is the earliest age to prevent morbidity in later life by means of any health intervention². During adolescent period some of the problems are more common like substance abuse, early marriage, sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infections, stress and depression and some of the adolescents are having school problems. Among these entire problems urinary tract infection problem is playing a major role³. Urinary tract infection is common disease affecting all age groups, from new born to old age. Among adolescent girls acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection is more prevalent. This is the fourth main reason for outpatient visit among adolescent women. Young women develop urinary-tract infections at more than three times the rate of young men. One probable reason why is that the female urethra, at just one and a half inches long, affords germs easy access to the bladder. A second factor is the close proximity of the urethral opening to the vagina and anus, both of which serve as fertile environments for bacteria⁴.

UTI is a well-known entity among females and female children, occurring more than that in males.Significantly, this health problem is contributing to the overall morbidity of females in all ages of their life. The commonest presenting complaint of UTI in adolescent girls is dysuriaand coupled with an initial reaction of fear /apprehension at menarche⁵. At least one episode of urinary tract infection will occur in nearly 5-6% of girls during first grade to graduation from high school. Compare to boys, the recurrence rate is 50% greater in girls. The prevalence of UTI among urban and rural adolescent school girls was 2.1% and 3.8% respectively with an overall prevalence of 2.9%. As per the World Health Organisation (2013), The higher prevalence of UTI among adolescent girls is attributed to hormonal change causing alterations in vaginal microflora and migration of the nephritogenic bacteria to the periurethral region⁶. As reported by the National Family Health Survey 2000, the prevalence of UTI among adolescent girls in India is 16.6%. Adolescent girls often have apprehension at menarche coupled with hesitancy to seek medical attention for symptoms of UTI. It is observed that prevalence of bacteiruria in school girls rises steadily with age and repeated screening of school girls for UTI is a preventive measure.

As compared to the gold standard procedures of urine microscopy and urine culture, reagent strip nitrite and Leukocyte Esterase (LE) provide cost-effective and faster indirect confirmation of bacteiruria and leukocyturia, respectively⁷. The effective preventive measures are able to block this bacterial migration. Take showers and avoid prolonged baths, wash the perineum from front to back. Do not hold urine for long. Do not wear tight fitting undergarments made of non-breathing material. Drink more water. Cranberry juice and pills are effective in reducing urinary infections. Avoid use of spermicidal gels as they kill sperms and normal vaginal flora, which is important in suppressing the colonization of pathogenic bacteria⁸.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Non – experimental research approach with descriptive research design was used and 30 samples were selected by using purposive sampling techniques from Nanchiyampalayam, Dharapuram.

DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE:

Data collection was done for a period of 1 week. Permission was obtained from the Counsellor of Nanchiyampalayam. The oral permission was obtained from each participant prior to the study. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 30 samples were selected by using purposive sampling technique. By using structured interview schedule the data collection was done in Nanchiyampalayam. Assured about the confidentiality of their response and purpose of the study was explained.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Regarding age, majority 16(53%) belongs to the age group of 15-16years.Regarding religion, majority 13(44%) of them were Hindus and 9(30%) were Christians. Regarding Occupation of the father, 9(30%) were farmer, and highest of 11(36%) were coolie worker and 3(10%) were private employees, 7(24%) them were government employee. Regarding family income per month 2(6%) belonged to the below Rs.3000/- income group, 9(30%) belonged to the income group of Rs.3001 - Rs4000 and 5(17%) belonged to the income group of Rs.4001-Rs.7000 and 14(47%) were belonged to the income group of Rs.5001 and above .Regarding education, 5(17%) had no formal education, 10(33%) had completed their primary education and 6(20%) had completed their secondary education and 9(30%) had high school .Regarding source of information, 11(37%) had through media and 15(50%) through Health personal, 4(13%) had through Family members. The findings revealed that there was no significant association between the level of knowledge regarding urinary tract infection with their selected demographic variables among adolescent girls except age (c²=9.93). Regarding level of knowledge Majority 16(53%) had adequate knowledge and 14(47%) had moderately adequate knowledge.

Figure: 1 Frequency and percentage distribution of level of knowledge regarding prevention of urinary tract infection among adolescent girls.

Table 1: Association between the level of knowledge regarding prevention of urinary tract infection among adolescent girls with their selected demographic variables. n=30

Demographic variables

The level of knowledge

c²

Table value

Inference

Inadequate knowledge

Moderately adequate knowledge

Adequate knowledge

1.1

1.2

1.3

Age

13-14 years

15-16 years

17-18 years

16.7

6.7

33.3

13.3

9.93

9.49

(df=4)

S^*

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

Religion

Hindu

Christian

Muslim

others

13.3

16.7

6.7

13.3

5.06

12.59

(df=6)

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

Occupation of the father

Farmer

Coolie

Private employee

Government employee

16.7

6.7

13.3

3.3

8.47

12.59

(df=6)

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

Family income

Rs.2000-3000

Rs.3001-4000

Rs.4001-5000

Rs.5001 and above

16.7

6.7

13.3

6.7

26.6

9.86

12.59

(df=6)

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

Education

No formal education

Primary education

secondary education

High school education

6.7

16.6

13.3

16.7

10.45

12.59

(df=6)

6.1

6.2

6.3

Source of information

Media

Health personal

Family members

16.7

33.3

3.3

6.36

9.49

(df=4)

NS-not significant at 0.05 level of significance. *Significant at 0.05 level

Figure 1 Shows that majority 16(53%) had adequate knowledge and 14(47%) had moderately adequate knowledge.

Table 1 shows that Chi square values were calculated to find the association between the level of knowledge regarding urinary tract infection with their selected demographic variables among adolescent girls. The findings revealed that there was no significant association between the level of knowledge regarding urinary tract infection with their selected demographic variables among adolescent girls except age (c²=9.93).

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Based on the findings of the study following recommendations are stated

· The same study can be conducted out with large samples

· Structured teaching programme can be conducted

· This can be conducted as a comparative study between urban and rural area

CONCLUSION:

The present study was done to assess the knowledge regarding urinary tract infection among adolescent girls. Results showed that, majority 16(53%) had adequate knowledge and 14(47%) had moderately adequate knowledge.

It's important to treat a UTI quickly to prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of your urinary tract. The infection can spread not only to your bladder but also to your kidneys. Kidney infections are a more complicated type of infection. Another name for a kidney infection is pyelonephritis. Therefore having a good knowledge regarding the preventive measures of urinary tract infection among the adolescent girls play an important role in bearing favorable attitude in reducing every chance of development of risk and complication associated with UTI.

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Received on 10.09.2024 Revised on 14.11.2024

Accepted on 24.12.2024 Published on 18.02.2025

Available online from March 10, 2025

Int. J. of Advances in Nursing Management. 2025;13(1):11-14.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2025.00003

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