A study to assess the effectiveness of a gender equality health education program on the knowledge of adolescents studying in selected schools at Vadodara, Gujarat,India

Introduction: Adolescence is a critical developmental phase during which attitudes toward gender roles, health, and social behaviors are shaped. A lack of awareness of gender equality, reproductive rights, and interpersonal relationships can lead to gender stereotypes and health challenges. This study aimed to (1) assess adolescents’ knowledge of gender equality before and after a health education program, and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the program in improving their understanding. Methods: A pre experimental research design with one-group pretest and posttest approaches was adopted. A total of 100 adolescents from a selected school in Vadodara, Gujarat, were included through a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed via descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The findings revealed a significant improvement in knowledge following the intervention. Poor knowledge levels decreased from 62% to 24%, whereas average knowledge increased from 35% to 73%. Gender, age, and region were found to have statistically significant associations with posttest knowledge scores (p < 0.001), whereas the primary source of information also had a significant effect (p = 0.007). Discussion: The statistical analysis (t = 22.47, p < 0.05) revealed a significant increase in the mean knowledge scores from 1.41 to 2.79. This suggests that even short, focused educational sessions can lead to substantial learning gains among adolescents. Conclusion: The gender equality health education program effectively enhanced adolescents’ knowledge and awareness, thereby contributing to reducing gender stereotypes and promoting positive gender-related attitudes.