Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in Adolescent Girls: Delayed Diagnosis, Stigma, and Quality of Life in Senior High School in Makassar City
Abstract
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age with a global prevalence of 5–15%. In Indonesia, especially in Makassar City, evidence on delayed diagnosis of PCOS in adolescents is limited, while the lack of school-based screening and low reproductive health literacy are suspected to hinder early detection. This study aimed to identify factors associated with delayed diagnosis of PCOS, explore social stigma, and assess the quality of life of adolescent girls. A mixed-methods study with a sequential explanatory design involved 37 female students in the quantitative phase and 10 participants in the qualitative phase. Quantitative data were collected using SF-36, PCOS-Q, and social stigma scales, while in-depth interviews were conducted to explain quantitative findings. Integration of results used a joint display approach. A total of 27 of 37 respondents (73.0%) experienced a delay in PCOS diagnosis of more than 12 months. The mean social stigma score was 68.4 (scale 0–100), while the SF-36 quality of life score was 52.3 and lower than that of the healthy population (mean difference = −27.7; 95% CI: −34.5 to −20.9; p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.31). Integration through joint display showed that normalization of symptoms by families, limited knowledge of school health workers, and internalization of stigma related to changes in physical appearance explained the high delay in diagnosis and low quality of life. The delay in PCOS diagnosis in adolescents in Makassar is still high and is influenced by individual, family, and school service system factors. These findings support the integration of PCOS symptom screening into UKS programs, training of UKS teachers and officers, and strengthening referral systems to improve early detection.
Keywords: Adolescent PCOS, Delayed Diagnosis, Social Stigma, Quality of Life
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30829/contagion.v8i3.30647
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