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International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology

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AWARENESS REGARDING PCOS/PCOD AMONG COLLEGE-GOING GIRLS IN RURAL MAHARASHTRA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

AUTHORS:
Dr.Akshata Shembekar
Mentor
Affiliation
DOI: 10.55041/ijsmt.v2i5.349
CC BY 4.0 License:
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Abstract

Background


Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. Despite increasing prevalence, awareness regarding symptoms, complications, lifestyle factors, and mental health impact remains inadequate, particularly among rural populations.


Aim


The present study aimed to assess awareness, perceptions, and health-related practices regarding PCOS/PCOD among college-going girls in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra.


Methodology


A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among college-going female students in Ratnagiri district. A total of 746 participants attended the awareness programme, out of which 343 eligible participants aged 18 years and above completed the informed consent and questionnaire and were included in the final analysis. Data were collected using a self-constructed bilingual questionnaire in Marathi and English. Descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages were used for analysis.


Results


Among participants, 74.6% had previously heard about PCOS/PCOD, while 25.4% had no prior awareness. Only 42% correctly identified PCOS/PCOD as a hormonal disorder, whereas many perceived it merely as menstrual irregularity. Menstrual irregularities and limited healthcare-seeking behavior were also observed among participants. A majority acknowledged the role of lifestyle factors and mental health impact associated with PCOS. Most participants expressed the need for increased awareness regarding reproductive health and PCOS.


Conclusion


The study highlights inadequate awareness and misconceptions regarding PCOS among rural college-going girls. Community-based awareness programs, reproductive health education, lifestyle counseling, and early intervention initiatives are necessary to improve women’s health literacy and preventive healthcare practices.

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PUBLICATION DETAILS
Review Type:
Double-Blind Peer Review
License:
CC BY-NC 4.0
Volume/Issue:
Volume 02, Issue 05
Review Rounds:
2
Article Type:
Research Article
Publication Date:
May 21 2026
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Shembekar, A. (2026). Awareness Regarding PCOS/PCOD Among College-Going Girls in Rural Maharashtra: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, 02(05). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i5.349

Shembekar, Akshata. "Awareness Regarding PCOS/PCOD Among College-Going Girls in Rural Maharashtra: A Cross-Sectional Study." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, vol. 02, no. 05, 2026, pp. . doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i5.349.

Shembekar, Akshata. "Awareness Regarding PCOS/PCOD Among College-Going Girls in Rural Maharashtra: A Cross-Sectional Study." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology 02, no. 05 (2026). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i5.349.

References
1.Bharathi, R. V., Swetha, S., Neerajaa, J., Madhavica, J. V., Janani, D. M., Rekha, S. N., & Bhuvaneshwari, V. (2021). An epidemiological survey: Effect of predisposing factors for PCOS in Indian urban and rural population. Middle East Fertility Society Journal, 26(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43043-021-00071-5

2.Gupta, M., & Verma, R. (2021). Awareness and perception regarding polycystic ovarian syndrome among adolescent girls: A cross-sectional study in India. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 8(9), 4372–4377.

3.Kaur, H., & Singh, A. (2024). Awareness regarding polycystic ovarian syndrome among college-going adolescent girls in rural India. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 49(1), 88–94.

4.Nidhi, R., Padmalatha, V., Nagarathna, R., & Amritanshu, R. (2022). Prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome among Indian adolescents. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 35(2), 198–203.

5.Patel, J., Mehta, H., & Sharma, P. (2022). Knowledge and awareness of PCOS among young women and college students: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 34(6), 455–462.

6.Sharma, P., & Mishra, S. (2023). Psychological impact and quality of life among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome in India. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 45(3), 245–252.

7.Abeen, A., Yamini, V., Rahman, A. A., et al. (2022). Awareness and prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome among adolescent girls in South India: A prospective educational intervention study. International Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 6(2), 45–50.

8.Alur-Gupta, S., Cooney, L. G., Senapati, S., Sammel, M. D., & Dokras, A. (2022). Mental health in polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertility and Sterility, 117(6), 1262–1274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.02.110

9.Babel, M., Sethi, S., & Ammireddy, S. (2024). Prevalence and associated risk factors of polycystic ovary syndrome among Indian women: A systematic review. Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research, 11(1), 12–21.

10.Bharathi, R. V., Swetha, S., Neerajaa, J., Madhavica, J. V., Janani, D. M., Rekha, S. N., & Bhuvaneshwari, V. (2021). An epidemiological survey: Effect of predisposing factors for PCOS in Indian urban and rural population. Middle East Fertility Society Journal, 26(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43043-021-00071-5
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This article has undergone plagiarism screening and double-blind peer review. Editorial policies have been followed. Authors retain copyright under CC BY-NC 4.0 license. The research complies with ethical standards and institutional guidelines.
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