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Effect of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness on PCOS Symptom Recognition among Female University Students in Nigeria

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal and metabolic condition that can affect women during their reproductive years. It may be associated with menstrual irregularities, symptoms of excess androgen activity, acne, increased facial or body hair, weight-related changes, and difficulties with fertility. PCOS may also be associated with longer-term metabolic and psychological health concerns. Among female university students, symptoms may remain unrecognized because irregular menstrual cycles and other changes may be considered normal, attributed to stress or lifestyle, or discussed infrequently. Limited awareness, misconceptions, stigma, inadequate reproductive health education, and limited access to appropriate healthcare services may contribute to delayed recognition and assessment. PCOS awareness programmes provide an opportunity to improve students' understanding of the condition, its possible symptoms, associated risk factors, and the importance of appropriate professional assessment. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of PCOS awareness on PCOS symptom recognition among female university students in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Model. The Health Belief Model explains how students' perceptions of their susceptibility to PCOS, perceived severity of associated health consequences, perceived benefits of recognizing symptoms, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence symptom recognition and healthcare-seeking. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes knowledge acquisition, self-efficacy, observational learning, social interaction, and environmental influences in the development and application of health knowledge. The Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Model provides a framework for explaining how improved health information may influence students' understanding and interpretation of PCOS symptoms and subsequent health-related decisions. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how PCOS awareness may influence symptom recognition among female university students in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative analytical cross-sectional or quasi-experimental research design. The study population will comprise female undergraduate students enrolled in selected universities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, universities, faculties, departments, and eligible female students. PCOS awareness will be assessed using indicators such as exposure to PCOS information, awareness of the nature of the condition, possible symptoms, associated risk factors, potential reproductive and metabolic complications, available diagnostic pathways, treatment and management options, and appropriate healthcare-seeking. PCOS symptom recognition will be assessed using indicators such as recognition of irregular or infrequent menstrual periods, prolonged absence of menstruation, excessive facial or body hair growth, persistent acne, scalp hair thinning, unexplained weight-related changes, and fertility-related concerns that may warrant professional assessment. The study will emphasize that these symptoms are not specific to PCOS and that clinical assessment is required for diagnosis. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires and appropriate PCOS knowledge or symptom-recognition assessment instruments. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' characteristics, levels of PCOS awareness, and patterns of symptom recognition. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of PCOS awareness on symptom recognition. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, symptom-recognition scores before and after structured awareness education may be compared, while relevant demographic, menstrual, reproductive, lifestyle, educational, socioeconomic, and healthcare-access factors are appropriately controlled. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that PCOS awareness has a significant positive effect on PCOS symptom recognition among female university students in Nigeria. Students exposed to structured and evidence-based PCOS awareness programmes are expected to demonstrate greater ability to recognize possible PCOS-related symptoms than students with limited exposure to PCOS information. Increased awareness may help students understand that persistent menstrual irregularities, excessive hair growth, acne, or other concerning changes should not automatically be dismissed as normal variations or attributed solely to stress. Education may also correct misconceptions, reduce stigma surrounding menstrual and reproductive health problems, improve confidence in discussing symptoms, and encourage appropriate professional assessment. However, misinformation from peers and social media, cultural beliefs, embarrassment about discussing reproductive health, low health literacy, financial barriers, limited access to student-friendly healthcare services, and fear of diagnosis may reduce the effectiveness of awareness programmes. The study therefore expects accessible, confidential, culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and regularly reinforced PCOS awareness to contribute significantly to improved symptom recognition among female university students in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on PCOS awareness, PCOS symptom recognition, polycystic ovary syndrome, women's reproductive health, menstrual health, university health services, reproductive health education, early recognition, healthcare-seeking, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Education, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, universities, student health services, reproductive health clinics, healthcare providers, gynaecologists, nurses, community health workers, women's health organizations, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving recognition of PCOS among young women. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating PCOS awareness into university health programmes, strengthening menstrual and reproductive health education, training healthcare providers and peer educators, developing culturally appropriate educational materials, improving access to confidential reproductive healthcare services, strengthening referral pathways, and promoting timely professional evaluation of persistent or concerning symptoms among female university students across Nigeria.

Keywords: PCOS awareness, PCOS symptom recognition, polycystic ovary syndrome, female university students, reproductive health, menstrual health, women's health, reproductive health education, healthcare-seeking, Nigeria, public health.