Measuring the Awareness of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) among Women in Punjab, Pakistan
Abstract
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Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevailing endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, worldwide. Its prevalence is 52% in Pakistani women and the rate of infertility is gradually increasing. It can be treated through early diagnosis, management of symptoms, and a healthy lifestyle. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the level of awareness and knowledge regarding PCOS in the women of Punjab, Pakistan. For this purpose, a total of 350 women between the ages of 16 and 50 years were included in the current study. data was obtained through a questionnaire and analyzed through SPSS (version 25). The results determined that 56% of women were found to have the knowledge of PCOS, while 44% had never heard about it. Furthermore, about 67% of 196 PCOS-aware women were unaware of its signs and symptoms. Moreover, in 14% of the cases, a friend was the source of knowledge regarding PCOS. Whereas, approximately 10% of these women had heard about the syndrome through education, 9% through their family, 7% through various media such as newspapers, television, and social media, and 17% through other sources including general physicians and gynecologists. It was concluded that only 33% of the participants who claimed to have heard of PCOS were aware of its symptoms, whereas 67% were unaware of them. A total of 152 women, out of 350, had never heard about PCOS.
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