A Study of Knowledge, Awareness, Prevalence, and Riskfactors of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age. Women with this syndrome may have infrequent menstrual periods due to excess androgen levels. It is important to make an early diagnosis in order to prevent early and late sequel of the syndrome. To assess the level of knowledge, awareness, prevalence and risk factors of PCOS among South Indian region, to identify factors that influenced the awareness, and to improve health care. This is a cross sectional online and offline study was conducted for a period of 8months (October 2021 to May 2022) among South Indian region womens whose age ranged between 18 to 45 years. Women demographic characteristics, reproductive health, knowledge, awareness, prevalence, risk factors of PCOS were analysed through an Online/Google form validated questionnaire. The outcomes of the study indicates that majority of the women 69.81 % (155) participants were under 20 years of age and 30.18% (67) were above 20 years of age, 73% (162) participants had good knowledge about PCOS, and 25.9% (42) participants were aware that menstrual irregularity is a symptom of PCOS. While only 16.2% (36) participants had believed that PCOS may lead to infertility, 13.1% (29) participants are believed that medications as treatment for PCOS, 3.2% (07) participants felt hypertension as risk factor of PCOS, 92.9% (206) participants felt none of them are risk factors of PCOS, and 41% (91) participants had believed that PCOS can treated with allopathy method. Conclusively, the present study observed that the current level of awareness on PCOS among the South-Indian population is still in low key though relatively better than past decades. With regard to knowledge and attitudes of PCOS, patients are still in the grey zone which could be overcome by extensive awareness programme. The present study emphasized the need to health education and awareness programmes to be incorporated in educational system improve to combat the low knowledge among rural population especially utilizing different sources, targeted approach to provide clear, appropriate and tangible information and preventive measures. Keywords: PCOS, excess androgens, menstrual irregularity, awareness, knowledge, prevalence and risk factors.