Changes in self-concept and healthy behaviors following an audio instructional program on puberty among teenage girls with visual impairment: a quasi-experimental study

Teenage girls, who are a vulnerable group, require special care and attention, particularly when puberty begins. A consistent teaching program about menstruation should be offered to adolescent girls with visual disabilities. The goal of this research was to evaluate the self-concept and healthy behavior of teenage girls with visual impairment after conducting an audio instructional program regarding puberty. A Quasi-experimental research design. The study was carried out in Al- Nor and Al- Aml schools in Port-Said city & Damietta city, one school in each city. Purposive sampling included 46 visually impaired teenage girls representing all eligible participants in the setting who met the inclusion criteria (25) at Port-Said City and (21) at Damietta City. Data collection instruments: Survey for Structured Interviews, Adolescents’ Self-concept Short Scale, Puberty Healthy Behavior Questionnaire. Significant improvements were observed in knowledge, self-concept, and menstrual health practices across pre, post, and follow-up phases. The mean total knowledge score increased from 16.43 ± 6.60 pre-intervention to 21.63 ± 6.33 post-intervention and 22.91 ± 5.80 at follow-up (F = 63.33, p < 0.001). The total self-concept score also improved significantly from 95.76 ± 6.42 to 106.91 ± 4.94 and 109.96 ± 6.88, respectively (F = 189.81, p < 0.001). Similarly, total health practices improved from 36.15 ± 5.07 pre-intervention to 40.35 ± 3.48 post-intervention and 41.67 ± 3.67 at follow-up (F = 18.51, p < 0.001), with consistent improvements across all domains. Significant correlations were found between knowledge, self-concept and health practices ( p < 0.001). The results of this investigation revealed that visually impaired adolescent girls had low knowledge, self-concept, and menstrual hygiene practices at puberty before the intervention. All measured outcome variables showed a significant improvement after the implementation of the audio instructions program, and such improvement was maintained at follow-up ( p < 0.001). This trial was registered on 22/ March /2026 at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier [NCT07496606].