The Effect of Living in Orphanage and Educational Counseling on uberty Health Among Female Adolescents Living in Welfare Centers: An interventional Study

Ahmadi, Atefeh; Alidousti, Katayoun; Kakadinparvar, Shima; Esmaily, Habibollah

doi:10.34172/JHAD.92379

The Effect of Living in Orphanage and Educational Counseling on uberty Health Among Female Adolescents Living in Welfare Centers: An interventional Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Atefeh Ahmadi ¹

Katayoun Alidousti ¹

Shima Kakadinparvar ²

Habibollah Esmaily ³

¹ 1Nursing Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

² Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

³ Reproductive and Family Health Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

10.34172/JHAD.92379

Abstract

Abstract
Background: Adolescents living in orphanages are at risk of health problems. The current study aimed to determine the effect of
living in an orphanage and educational counseling on puberty health of female adolescents living in welfare centers.
Methods: This study contained two stages. In the first stage, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 416 students living in
welfare centers (10-14 years of age). In the second stage, 60 orphans (30 in the control group and 30 in the intervention group)
participated in the interventional study. The intervention group received five two-hour sessions of educational counseling once
a week. Pre-test and post-test were performed using a researcher-made questionnaire. The data were analyzed in SPSS 18 using
the Mann-Whitney U, chi-square, Wilcoxon, and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests.
Results: The cross-sectional study results indicated that the knowledge of orphans was lower (P < 0.001), but their attitudes and
practices were higher (P < 0.001) than others. The trial study results demonstrated that in the intervention group, there was a
significant difference (P < 0.001) in the mean difference of the puberty health score before and after the intervention.
Conclusion: Educational counseling is recommended to improve the level of puberty among female adolescents.

Keywords

Social welfare

Health

Counseling

Puberty

Adolescent

Subjects