International Journal of Innovative Research in Health Science

Introduction: Puberty is a natural stage of human development characterized by physical, emotional, and psychological changes. It typically occurs between 8–13 years in girls and 9–14 years in boys, with individual variations. Girls often receive structured education on menstruation and hygiene, whereas boys receive limited information about pubertal changes. Aim of the study: To assess and compare the knowledge and preparedness regarding puberty among girls and boys Methodology: A quantitative comparative study was conducted among 60 students (30 girls and 30 boys) aged 8–12 years at a Panchayat Union Primary School, Koladi, Thiruverkadu. Stratified sampling was used to ensure equal gender representation. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire. Results: Among girls, 90% had inadequate knowledge of puberty, while 100% of boys showed inadequate knowledge. Moderate preparedness was observed in 76.6% of girls and 66.6% of boys, while high preparedness was found in 6.6% of girls and 33.3% of boys. Mean knowledge scores were 6.03 ± 2.34 for girls and 4.93 ± 1.93 for boys. Mean preparedness scores were 4.93 ± 1.05 for girls and 6.07 ± 1.28 for boys. A moderate positive correlation between knowledge and preparedness was observed among girls (r = 0.413), whereas boys showed a weak negative correlation (r = −0.318). Significant associations were found between study variables and selected demographic factors. Conclusion: The study revealed poor knowledge regarding puberty among both boys and girls. Although boys demonstrated better preparedness, girls showed a positive relationship between knowledge and preparedness.