Social health problem of adolescent girls aged 15–19 years living in slums of Dibrugarh town, Assam

IntroductionAdolescence in girls, a phase of transition period between childhood and womanhood, is the most eventful for mental, emotional and psychological well being.Aims and objectivesTo study the social health problem and its determinant among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years living in slums of Dibrugarh town, Assam.Materials and methodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 adolescent girls aged 15–19 years residing in slums of Dibrugarh town, Assam during the period from June 2014 to May 2015.ResultsMean age of adolescent girls was 16.57 ± 1.45 years. Majority were Hindu (67.7%), belonged to nuclear family (74.3%) and had socio-economic status IV (53%). 1.3% were illiterate and 8.4% were married. Overall thinness and stunting were prevalent among 39.4% and 33%, respectively. Stunting decreased significantly with increase in age and overall thinness decreased significantly with attainment of higher socio-economic status, higher educational status and nuclear family. In this study, depression was prevalent among 7% and mild anxiety among 12.7% of adolescent girls. Depression increased significantly with increase in age and with lower socio-economic class. Exposure of domestic violence was reported among 2.3% and it had significant association with socio-economic status.ConclusionsThese multi-dimensional problems of adolescent girls can be addressed through social empowerment of female and enlightenment such as female literacy and employment.