Prevalence and Knowledge Levels of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome among Female Adolescents in Educational Institutions in Hyderabad, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine condition that is frequently misdiagnosed, and its prevalence is rising rapidly worldwide. Adolescent girls often lack adequate knowledge about PCOS. This study examined the prevalence of PCOS and awareness among female adolescents.

METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among female adolescents from selected educational institutions in the north zone of Hyderabad. Institutions were carefully chosen to represent a diverse student population. Data were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. The Chi-square test of independence and logistic regression were employed to identify variables associated with PCOS knowledge levels.

RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-two female adolescents participated. The mean age was 18.19 years (±0.92 SD). Forty-four participants were diagnosed with PCOS (11.5%), and 17.3% were  suspected PCOS. Over 89% of participants demonstrated good knowledge across various PCOS domains. A significant association was found between the level of education and learning about PCOS (p=0.05). There was a weak positive correlation between the level of study and knowledge scores (p=0.05). Bivariate and multivariate logistic analysis revealed that university girls [AOR: 1.9, 95% CI: (1.12-3.25)] and those with PCOS [AOR: 6.8, 95% CI: (1.4-32.4)] were more knowledgeable than their counterparts with lower education levels and without PCOS, respectively.

CONCLUSION: While knowledge of PCOS among female adolescents was generally good, the disease burden was high. Targeted counseling and lifestyle management interventions are essential to prevent long-term complications of PCOS.