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A new study from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health reveals that an illustrated book on puberty and menstruation can significantly enhance young girls’ knowledge and positively influence their health attitudes. The study, published in BMC Public Health, found that girls in the New York metropolitan area who were given the book reported increased understanding of topics such as physical body changes, menstruation products, and exercise during periods.
The study, led by Angela-Maithy Nguyen, former postdoctoral student in sociomedical sciences, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using a simple, accessible tool for delivering puberty education in after-school programs. “Our goal was to explore a low-resource method of providing critical puberty education to girls in a way that could be easily implemented,” said Nguyen, who also emphasized the importance of timely puberty education in improving girls’ health outcomes.
The research, conducted between February and May 2023, involved 123 girls aged 9 to 12 years, predominantly from Black, Hispanic, and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Participants were randomly assigned to read either a book on puberty and periods or a book about healthy eating. The study measured shifts in knowledge, attitudes, and comfort discussing puberty-related topics through pre- and post-surveys.
Findings showed that girls who read the puberty book experienced an 8% increase in their knowledge score, with a notable 12% improvement among those who had not yet started menstruating. The control group, which read the healthy eating book, showed no such gains.
The study’s results are significant in light of the challenges that many girls, especially from marginalized communities, face during puberty. Dr. Marni Sommer, professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia and senior author of the study, noted that early menstruation can contribute to psychological distress and poor academic performance, particularly among Black and Hispanic girls. Unfortunately, puberty education is not universally provided, with less than half of U.S. elementary and middle schools teaching related topics.
“Our findings suggest that the simple act of distributing an educational book can have a powerful effect on knowledge and attitudes towards puberty, without the need for formal classroom instruction,” said Sommer. “This intervention holds promise for improving pubertal health education, particularly for girls who are often underserved.”
The research highlights the potential of illustrated books as a low-cost, scalable intervention for puberty education. The authors recommend further evaluation of the long-term social and health impacts of such interventions, with a focus on the critical need for earlier puberty education.
For more information on the study, visit BMC Public Health or refer to the article titled Impacts of a puberty and period education intervention among 9- to 12-year-old girls in the New York metropolitan area: a randomized trial by Angela-Maithy N. Nguyen et al.
