Determinants of Physical and Mental Health: A Cross-sectional Study among Rural Adolescent Girls in Bangladesh

Hossain Mahmud; Md Tuhin    Mia; Esrat Jahan   Eva; Naima Ahasan; Chayon Sikder

doi:10.48165/sajssh.2024.6107

Authors

Hossain Mahmud BSS & MSS (Social Welfare), Lecturer, Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science & Technology University, Jamalpur-2012, Bangladesh.
Md Tuhin Mia BSS & MSS (Social Welfare), Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
Esrat Jahan Eva BA & MA (Sanskrit), Department of Sanskrit, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
Naima Ahasan BSS & MSS (Social Welfare), Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
Chayon Sikder BSS & MSS (Social Welfare), Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/sajssh.2024.6107

Keywords:

Adolescent Girls, Physical Health, Mental Health, Menstruation, Depression, Rural Community, Bangladesh

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the determinants of physical and mental health changes & problems among rural adolescent girls in Bangladesh. Methods: The study was conducted with 400 participants (adolescent girls) by using convenient sampling technique where Chi-squared tests were used to measure the relationships between physical & mental health determinants of adolescent girls and socio-demographic indicators (age & family income). Findings: This study explored menstruation (72%), breast growing (14%), changes in vocal chores (6%), increasing hair in different parts of body (4%) and changes in size of sexual organs (2%) are the major physical health changes of adolescents. They also acquired some mental health changes e.g., attraction to opposite sex (76%), repeated changes in mood (43%), conscious about dress up (24%), feeling shyness (22%), feeling overly sensitive (8%), conflicting thoughts (13%) and feeling uncertain (11%) etc. In this transition period, adolescent girls also face some physical & mental health problems. Physical weakness (14.2%), headache (82.8), vomiting (0.8%) and depression (54.2%), anxiety (5.5%), mental retired/stress (20.2%, mental distortion/sadness (9%) & fear (9.3%) are the common physical & mental health problems they experienced at this time. Originality: This study reveals the major physical and mental health determinants of adolescent girls with their physical & mental health vulnerabilities. As the most vulnerable group, rural adolescent girls (poor family income) suffer more vulnerability (physical & mental health problems) during their adolescent period.

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