A Pelvic Health Curriculum in School Settings: The Effect on Adolescent Females' Knowledge Journal Article

Local Library Link: Find It @ Loyola

Authors: Hebert-Beirne, J. M.; O'Conor, R.; Ihm, J. D.; Parlier, M. K.; Lavender, M. D.; Brubaker, L
Article Title: A Pelvic Health Curriculum in School Settings: The Effect on Adolescent Females' Knowledge
Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVE: This pilot study ascertained baseline knowledge of pelvic anatomy and function among adolescent females and tested the educational effectiveness of a pelvic health curriculum among female adolescent students hypothesizing that teaching pelvic anatomy, muscle and organ function, and pelvic hygiene increases pelvic health knowledge. DESIGN: Intervention-Control group, community-based effectiveness study. SETTING: Three Chicago area schools with racial minority and low-income student populations were selected as study sites. PARTICIPANTS: 168 students with a mean age of 14.1 (SD=0.1). The majority (69%) self-reported race as Black or African American; 23.8% reported Hispanic ethnicity. INTERVENTION: Pelvic health teachers delivered six weekly, one-hour classes (Intervention: 103, Control: 65). A comparison control group received standard curricula (gym or science). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Knowledge change, measured by the Adolescent Bladder and Pelvic Health Questionnaire. Chi-square tests compared bivariate differences between study arms; generalized equation estimate (GEE) tested pre-post change across groups. RESULTS: Baseline pelvic anatomy and function knowledge was minimal. Anatomical knowledge was very low with few in either group correctly identifying where urine exits the body or the number of openings in the vulva. Post-intervention, significant increases in anatomical knowledge included pelvic floor muscles awareness in the control and intervention group (20% vs. 89%, p .001), pelvic floor muscle exercise benefit (31% vs. 78%, p.001) and knowledge that urine loss was abnormal (25.4% vs. 60%, p.001). More participants correctly identified organs within the pelvic structure, the vagina (21.5% vs. 51.5%, p.001), pelvic floor (16.9% vs. 57.3%, p.001), and the bladder (12.3% vs 42.7%, p .001). CONCLUSION: This study identified pelvic-related knowledge deficits among female adolescents and suggests short-term pelvic health educational intervention results in significant knowledge acquisition.
Journal Title: Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology
ISSN: 1873-4332; 1083-3188
Publisher: North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc  
Date Published: 2015
Language: ENG
DOI/URL:

S1083-3188(15)00317-4
Notes: LR: 20150927; CI: Copyright (c) 2015; JID: 9610774; OTO: NOTNLM; 2014/08/24 [received]; 2015/09/08 [revised]; 2015/09/17 [accepted]; aheadofprint