Effectiveness of an awareness campaign on knowledge regarding the one stop centre (sakhi) programme among adolescent girls in selected higher secondary schools of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh: a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/yq60r212Keywords:
Adolescent girls, Awareness campaign, Gender-based violence, Health education, One Stop Centre, Sakhi, Quasi-experimental studyAbstract
Background
Violence against women and girls is a major public health and human rights concern, and adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable. The One Stop Centre (OSC), or Sakhi, programme provides integrated medical, police, legal, psycho-social and shelter support to women and girls affected by violence, but awareness of it among adolescents is limited. This study assessed the effectiveness of an awareness campaign on knowledge regarding the OSC programme among adolescent girls.
Methods
A quasi-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test study was conducted among 60 adolescent girls aged 13–18 years, selected by non-probability convenience sampling from two higher secondary schools in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Knowledge was measured with a validated, self-structured 30-item questionnaire before and seven days after a structured awareness campaign. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the paired t-test and the chi-square test (p < 0.05).
Results
All 60 participants completed both assessments. In the pre-test, 31 (51.7%) girls had inadequate and 29 (48.3%) had moderate knowledge; none had adequate knowledge. In the post-test, 59 (98.3%) had adequate and 1 (1.7%) had moderate knowledge. The mean knowledge score increased from 15.15 ± 4.53 to 28.25 ± 1.38 (mean difference 13.10; 95% CI 11.90–14.30; t(59) = 21.83; p < 0.001). Pre-test knowledge was significantly associated with age, but not with residence, family type, religion or monthly family income.
Conclusion
The awareness campaign substantially improved adolescent girls’ knowledge of the OSC programme.
Recommendation
OSC awareness should be integrated into school health and adolescent health programmes, with periodic reinforcement involving teachers and parents. Controlled studies with longer follow-up are recommended to assess retention, attitudes and help-seeking behaviour.
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