The most prevalent gynaecological endocrinopathy, polycystic ovary syndrome affects 5–10% of women globally who are of reproductive age. Menstrual irregularities, hirsutism, obesity, insulin resistance, acne, and later in life, infertility, diabetes mellitus, late menopause, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular illnesses, and uterine cancer are all issues that PCOS is linked to. Early intervention and minimising the immediate and long-term effects of PCOS require awareness [1-3].

PCOS is becoming more prevalent as a result of environmental and lifestyle changes brought on by urbanization. According to recent studies, one in five adolescent girls in India has PCOS. Lack of knowledge is thought to be the primary cause of this condition. For early intervention, including behavior adjustment, to minimize the short- and long-term effects of PCOS, awareness is a necessity [4-6].

The prevalence of PCOS among adolescents is under diagnosed and under examined. The many PCOS symptoms first appear when a girl is still developing into a young woman. Women can have different PCOS symptoms, thus it's common for them to be unaware of their condition. Identification of women in need of therapy depends on public knowledge of the disorder's symptoms and its seriousness. In addition, accurate, current information that is based on well-executed research studies and provided from knowledgeable and well-trained doctors and other careers is necessary for women to make wise decisions about their health management [7-9].           

Numerous studies on PCOS have been conducted throughout India, but only a small number of them have been conducted in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Objectives of the Study

To evaluate the awareness and knowledge regarding polycystic ovary syndrome among women of reproductive age group in Himachal Pradesh

Research Methodology

• Research Approach – Descriptive 

• Research Design – Cross-sectional survey design

• Study area – Whole state of Himachal Pradesh

• Study duration – between January 2023 and March 2023 

Study Population

All reproductive age group females who were staying in the Himachal Pradesh for 12 months or more.

Sample Size

400 reproductive age group females, assuming 50% have adequate knowledge regarding polycystic ovary syndrome, 5% absolute error, 95% confidence level, and 5% non-response rate

Study tool

A google form questionnaire consisting of questions regarding socio-demography and knowledge regarding polycystic ovary syndrome was created. The questionnaire was initially pre-tested on a small number of females to identify any difficulty in understanding by the respondents.

Description of Tool

Demographic Data Survey Instrument

The demographic form elicited information on participants’ background: age, marital status, religion, employment, education and many more

Questionnaire

The questionnaire contains 20 structured polycystic ovary syndrome knowledge related questions having three options (yes, no, don’t know).  The participants have to choose right one. One mark was given for each correct answer and zero for incorrect answer. The maximum score was 20 and minimum score was zero. Scoring was done on the basis of marks as >80% (16-20) =very good,60-79% (12-15) =Good,41-59% (8-11) =Fair, <40% (< 8) =poor

Validity of tool - by the experts in this field

Data collection

Data was collected under the guidance of supervisors. The google form questionnaire was circulated among reproductive age group female residents of the state for responses using online modes like e-mail and social media platforms like Whatsapp groups, Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin till the 400 responses were collected. 

Data analysis

Data was collected and entered in Microsoft excel spread sheet, cleaned for errors and analyzed with Epi Info V7 Software with appropriate statistical test in terms of frequencies and percentage. 

Ethical Considerations

Participants confidentiality and anonymity was maintained.

Through a non-experimental descriptive survey, the current study sought to evaluate the knowledge about PCOS among reproductive age group female in Himachal Pradesh. The study included 400 reproductive age group females. Maximum 157 (39.25%) were having age between 26-30 years, educated up to Matric & Senior Secondary 162(40.5%), Hindu 381(95.25%) and unemployed/housewife 321(80.25%).

Table 1. socio demographic characteristics of the participants

In the present study 25.75% (103) participants had very good knowledge (16-20 marks) towards, polycystic ovarian syndrome 31.5% (126) had good knowledge (12-15 marks), 32.75% (131) had fair knowledge (8-11 marks) and 10.0% (40) having poor knowledge (<8 marks).                

Table-2: knowledge regarding PCOS among study participants

Table 3: knowledge score towards PCOS among study participants

Maximum =20 Minimum=6

One of the main endocrine conditions that worry women is PCOS.PCOS is a complicated condition that presents as infertility, hirsutism, obesity, and monthly irregularities such oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, and anovulation, according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). According to ultrasound screening, PCOS is characterized by bilaterally enlarged ovaries that are dotted with atretic follicles and show signs of fluid-filled cysts [8-10].

For the start of effective treatment and management activities, it is critical that PCOS is diagnosed as soon as possible. However, this can be accomplished by raising awareness through educational initiatives and other strategies, such as informing the susceptible population about the signs, causes, and timing of onset, as well as the medical services linked to PCOS [9-11].

Females in Himachal Pradesh who were reproductive age were included in the current study, and their level of awareness was alarmingly low. Less social contact may be the cause of this. Long-term, this might have led to stigma surrounding their expression of enthusiasm for the psychological and physical changes [12-13].

The prevalence of PCOS has been rising as a result of contemporary living. In order to implement early lifestyle changes that would prevent metabolic and reproductive issues, early diagnosis is crucial. Community-based health programmes must include PCOS screening and health education. Simple menstrual history testing on target populations could identify potential PCOS and enable effective early treatments. We also advocate for encouraging open discourse on menstrual issues in aaganwadi centre and Panchyats. Establishing a health conversation with her daughter will help her overcome her hesitation to get urgent medical attention [13-15].

Mandatory educational programmes to raise public knowledge of the condition should be implemented. It is crucial to screen for PCOS in basic healthcare facilities, colleges, universities, and all other types of educational institutions. Regional levels should develop PCOS awareness workshops and support groups. Health practitioners should be commended for preparing patients and their families for potential long-term effects and inspiring them to schedule routine follow-ups. It is critically necessary to place national public service announcements in widely accessible and understandable media such as television, radio, the Internet, newspapers, and magazines. Additionally, females should be encouraged to engage in sports, avoid sugary drinks and frequently consume fast food, learn to control their stress through meditation, and speak with medical specialists about their reproductive health [14-15].

Limitations of the study 

It was difficult to generalise the findings because of the investigation's cross-sectional design and small sample size. It was also hard to confirm that the participants did not look up the answers to the questions in printed or online dictionaries because the questionnaire was distributed online. In the event that they did, the data may be negatively skewed, providing inaccurate information on the participants' level of PCOS awareness. To identify barriers to disseminating accurate information on PCOS, future studies should focus on qualitative investigations with a larger sample size, including focus groups.

The current study found that the degree of PCOS awareness among Himachal Pradeshi women in the reproductive age group is still low and in the grey area, which might be changed by a comprehensive awareness campaign. The current study highlighted the importance of incorporating health education and awareness initiatives into educational system improvements to combat low knowledge, particularly by utilising multiple sources, focused approach to deliver clear, suitable, and practical information and preventive measures. Counselling for the illness and lifestyle changes should be offered.  Increased efforts are required for early detection.  Many of the long-term health effects linked to this disease may be avoided with early and accurate identification.

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2. Jabeen, A., V. et al. "polycystic ovarian syndrome: Prevalence, Predisposing Factors, and Awareness Among Adolescent and Young Girls of South India." Cureus, vol. 14, no. 8, 2022, Article ID e27943.

3. Upadhye, J.J., and C.A. Shembekar. "Awareness of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) in Adolescent and Young Girls." International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 6, 2017, pp. 2297–2301.

4. Vaithy, K.A., et al. "Knowledge, Attitude and Awareness Towards Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Among Women of South East Coastal Population of India." IP Journal of Diagnostic Pathology and Oncology, vol. 5, no. 2, 2020, pp. 215–219.

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