scholarly journals Factors impacting on menstrual hygiene and their implications for health promotion

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Mutunda Lahme ◽  
Ruth Stern ◽  
Diane Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
School Attendance ◽  
National Level ◽  
Community Setting ◽  
Age At Menarche ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Western Province ◽  
Women's Lives ◽  
Health Promoting School ◽  
Context Specific

Background: In the lives of women, puberty is marked by the onset of menarche. From this stage onwards until menopause, reproductive health and menstrual hygiene are important aspects of women’s lives. In Zambia’s Western Province, the natural process of menstruation is a taboo and dealt with secretly. Information and knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls is inadequate. This paper explores the factors influencing the understanding, experiences and practices of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in Mongu District, Western Province of Zambia. Methods: An explorative study design was used by means of six focus group discussions conducted with 51 respondents, aged 13–20 years, from three secondary schools. Their age at menarche was 11–15. For data analysis thematic content analysis was used. Results: The paper shows that the girls suffer from poor menstrual hygiene, originating from lack of knowledge, culture and tradition, and socio-economic and environmental constraints, leading to inconveniences, humiliation and stress. This leads to reduced school attendance and poor academic performance, or even drop outs, and ultimately infringes upon the girls’ human rights. Conclusion: To address these shortcomings, a ‘super setting approach’ is recommended, in which a Health Promoting School could improve the girls’ individual and group needs, and a community setting which would address the broader socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions. This would enable creating a supportive environment for the girls to manage their periods. To successfully utilize the approach, all stakeholders (parents, teachers, children, governments and communities) should cooperate to generate context-specific solutions for creating safe menstrual care, and better and dignified conditions for adolescent girls. Therefore, this calls for comprehensive, strident advocacy for policy changes at national level, and mediation and involvement at community level.

scholarly journals An epidemiological study of menstrual hygiene practices in school going adolescent girls from urban slums of Nalgonda, Telangana

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
Jyothi Veleshala ◽  
Varun M. Malhotra ◽  
Suresh J. Thomas ◽  
Kondagunta Nagaraj
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Urban Slum ◽  
Age At Menarche ◽  
Female Teacher ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
School Girls ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sanitary Pads

Background: Reproductive health of adolescent girls is crucial as it determines the health of future generations. School girls when experiencing menarche find themselves in a setting without water, toilets or a supportive female teacher to explain the changes happening in their body. Hence, the present study was conducted to assess knowledge and practices about menstruation in adolescent school girls of an urban slum and to find some socio-demographic determinants of menstrual hygiene.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 6th to 10th class school going adolescent girls from an urban slum of Telangana state. A total of 300 girls participated.Results: The mean age of the students was 11.9±3.3 years. The mean age at menarche was 13.09 (95% CI: 12.07–14.11). 25.3% had acquired prior knowledge about attaining menarche. For majority (74.2%) the knowledge was imparted by their mothers. 96.9% of school girls used sanitary pads. Significant association observed between educational status and employment status of mother and usage of sanitary pads by respondent. Almost 90% of the young women faced physical complaints or health problems during menstruation. Majority (94.3%) had religious restrictions on them during the menstruation.Conclusions: Menstrual hygiene is an issue which needs to be addressed to all adolescents, with special emphasis in slum area. Lack of awareness is a roadblock in adopting safe and hygienic menstrual practices. More emphasis should be given on improving adolescent literacy for achieving hygienic menstrual practices.

scholarly journals Assessment of an Educational Intervention on the Perception of Adolescent Girls towards Menstrual Hygiene in Ogun State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 109-118
Author(s):  
Ugochinyere Chinasa Ekeanyanwu
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age At Menarche ◽  
Educational Approach ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Ogun State

In low and middle-income countries, menstruation is impeded by several misconceptions, taboos and shrouded in secrecy. This serves as a major challenge to proper Education regarding menstrual hygiene and has blocked the access of adolescent girls to the right kind of information, thereby influencing a negative outcome associated with harmful behaviours. The objective of the study was to investigate the assessment of an educational intervention on the perception of adolescent girls towards menstrual hygiene in Ogun state, Nigeria. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design. One hundred and twenty (120) in-school adolescent girls were selected through a multistage sampling technique from four (4) secondary schools within four (4) local government areas in Ogun State, Nigeria. A validated 23-items questionnaire measured on a 69-point rating scale with a Cronbach Alpha scores 0.79 was used for data collection. The mean ±SD age and age at menarche of adolescent girls was 14.92±1.82; 12.73±1.38. The majority of respondents had low scores of perceptions. The educational intervention had an effective change in the level of perception of adolescent schoolgirls between baseline and the 6th-week follow-up, indicating a mean difference of 26.70 (p<0.01) for the peer-led, 26.54(p<0.01) parent-led, 20.16(p<0.01) parent and peer-led and a decrease in mean in the control group (-0.17; p=0.866). The peer-led educational approach had a better impact on adolescent girls’ perception compared to other educational approaches. Hence, this is an indication that peer-education strategies should be utilized for further interventions and in reaching out to adolescents.

scholarly journals ‘Oh Bulan’ Pilot Project: Sanitary Pad Usage and School Absenteeism During Menstruation Among Adolescent Girls in Rural Kelantan

2019 ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Nur Aizati Athirah Daud ◽  
Veronica GK Williams ◽  
Zuraidah Daut ◽  
Zaharah Sulaiman
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
School Attendance ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
School Absenteeism ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Sanitary Pads ◽  
Age Of Menarche ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Introduction: Menstruation is the sign of menarche for female adolescents. Previous finding had reported a need for education to improve the knowledge on menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls living in rural Kelantan. However, the access of sanitary pads and the effect of menstruation on school attendance among this population have not been reported elsewhere.Objectives: To determine the prevalence of sanitary pads usage and school absenteeism among adolescent girls in rural Kelantan.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among female students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Dangar in Pasir Mas, Kelantan between February and March 2019. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire in Bahasa Malaysia, which were administered by the school counselor.Results: A total of 172 respondents filled the questionnaires, with a mean age of 15 years (s.d. 1.4, range 13 to 17). Nearly half of them (n=78, 45.3%) are the daughters of laborers. Majority of them have fathers and mothers with the highest education level of SPM/STPM, while 7% have fathers with no proper schooling. Their mean age of menarche is 12. Majority of them claimed to use disposable sanitary pad (n=148, 87.2%) and would be wearing it every time during menstruation (n=148, 86.0%), while 4.7% used cloth pad. 40 (23.3%) of respondents would only stay at home during menstruation, mainly because they felt uncomfortable (5.8%) or having period pain (4.1%). 25 (14.5%) of the respondents used to be absent from school during menstruation, mainly due to period pain (12.2%).Conclusion: Disposable sanitary pad usage is highly prevalent among adolescents in this rural area, while menstruation have caused some of them to be absent from school.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2019 Page: 49

scholarly journals AWARENESS OF PROBLEMS DUE TO MENSTRUATION IN SCHOOL GOING GIRLS - HYDERABAD SINDH

1970 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
Shama Nawaz ◽  
Rozina Khalid ◽  
Nandlal Serani
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Age At Menarche ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Major Stage ◽  
The Many ◽  
Age Of Menarche ◽  
Source Of Information

Background: Menstruation is a major stage of puberty in girls, one of the many physical signs that a girl is turning into a woman. Women having better knowledge about menstrual hygiene and safe practices are less vulnerable to RTI and its consequences. Therefore, increased knowledge about menstruation right from childhood may escalate practices and may help in mitigating the suffering of millions of women. This study carried out to gather information regarding menstruation, hygiene related practices and its related problems among adolescent girls along with to review perceptions, belief and expectations regarding menstruation among adolescent girls. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted, 314 girls of 12 to 15 years were identified as sample from 5 girls high schools. Pre tested pre designed questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed by using SPSS (Version 22). Descriptive statistics used to determine mean age of the subjects, age at menarche, frequency of menstrual disorders and activities affected by this condition. Results: Mean age of the sample was 14.25 years, with mean age of menarche 12.6 years. 52.6% of the girls belong to the mothers who are illiterate. 50.7% girls were aware of menstruation before menarche with major source of the information is mother (71.2%). 97.8% perceived menstruation as a normal process. 55.1% participants said they missed their school during menstruation. 96.4% experiencing pain and cloth was most common source of absorbent used by 60.2%. Conclusion: Mothers are the main source of information for young girls. Major reason for absenteeism from school was fear of stain, it has been suggested through cleanliness available for changing absorbent (pad/cloth) the ratio of absenteeism can be reduce.

scholarly journals The plight of menstruating secondary school-girls: a wake-up call for parents and the school system

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1134
Author(s):  
Emmy Metta ◽  
Hellen Mwita ◽  
Melkizedeck Leshabari
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
School Environment ◽  
School Attendance ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Age At Menarche ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
Hygiene Management ◽  
School Girls

Background: This study assessed secondary schoolgirls’ menstruation experiences and the appropriateness of the school environment in fostering menstrual hygiene management in Tanzania’s rural settings.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 506 secondary schools girls from Mara Region, Tarime district in Northern Tanzania. Self-administered questionnaire were used for generating data which was analysed using SPSS version 20.Results: The age at menarche for the 506 secondary schoolgirls in the study ranged from 9-17 with a median age of 14 years. Less than a third (31.6%) were informed about menstruation and how to manage it before the first experience. Mothers were the first source of information to 50.2%of the girls. Slightly more than a half (51.4%) were scared and 43.3% were uncomfortable about the experience when it first occurred. More than half (54.8%) missed school for two days and 18% could not go to school for four or more days during menstruation. Almost three-quarters (73.5%) did not have access to sanitary pads. None of the schools had suitable and appropriate WASH facilities to support girls during menstruation.Conclusions: Secondary school girls in Tarime district experience various challenges during their menstruation. Improved awareness and knowledge on menstruation, enhanced access to sanitary and WASH facilities at the school environment would improve menstrual hygiene management among secondary schoolgirls and boost their school attendance and participation in education generally. 

scholarly journals Knowledge and Practices on Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Adolescent Girls of Kaski District, Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-175
Author(s):  
Sasmita Poudel ◽  
Dipesh Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Age At Menarche ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Demographic Profiles ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
School Based ◽  
Hygiene Management

The study was conducted to understand the cultural and social practices and knowledge prevailing on menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in Nepal. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 122 adolescent girls of class VII to X at three schools of Kaski district, Nepal. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used for assessing socio-demographic profiles, knowledge, and experiences on menstruation, practices (social and cultural) regarding menstrual hygiene management. The data collected were analysed using SPSS version 23 for windows. The mean age at menarche was found to be 12.5±0.9. The majority (73%) girls were aware of menstruation prior to the attainment of it. Most of them got the information from mother (45.9%), the majority (69.7%) used sanitary pad as the absorbents, however, most of them (78.4%) throw the sanitary pad in the garbage. Many cultural and social taboos and restrictions were found associated with menstruation. The majority (91.8%) were not allowed to participate in religious activities, 45.1% were not allowed to touch things in the house, two- thirds (67.2%) were not allowed to cook, and 60.7% were not allowed to enter the kitchen. Most of the adolescent girls were isolated even from normal daily activities and they were not happy with these restrictions during the menstruation. Instead, they urged the need for more support, care, and hygienic practices for proper hygiene management to lead a healthy life. This paper reflects the actual knowledge and practices prevailed in the society during menstruation and emphasizes on providing the correct knowledge on health and helping to correctly practice hygiene during menstruation. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 7, Issue-3: 169-175

scholarly journals "I was tricked": understanding reasons for unintended pregnancy among sexually active adolescent girls

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Idowu Ajayi ◽  
Sally Atieno Odunga ◽  
Clement Oduor ◽  
Ramatou Ouedraogo ◽  
Boniface Ayanbekongshie Ushie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unintended Pregnancy ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Teenage Pregnancy ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
School Attendance ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Unintended Pregnancies ◽  
Study Setting

Abstract Background While the Kenya government is mobilizing high-level strategies to end adolescent pregnancy by 2030, a clear understanding of drivers of early unintended pregnancy in the country is a necessary precursor. In this study, we determine the prevalence, associated factors, and reasons for unintended pregnancy among sexually active adolescent girls (aged 15–19 in two Kenya counties with the highest rate of teenage pregnancy. Methods We used the “In Their Hands” (ITH) program's baseline evaluation data. The study adopted a mixed-methods design with 1110 sexually active adolescent girls in the quantitative component and 19 girls who were either pregnant or nursing a child in the qualitative. We used adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression to model factors associated with unintended pregnancy among respondents. We used a thematic analysis of qualitative data to examine girls’ reasons for having unintended pregnancy. Results Overall, 42% of respondents have had an unintended pregnancy; however, higher proportions were observed among girls who were 19 years (49.4%), double orphans (53.6%), never used contraceptive (49.9%), out-of-school (53.8%), and married (55.6%). After adjusting for relevant covariates, the odds of unintended pregnancy were higher among girls who resided in rural areas (AOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.22–2.20), had primary or no formal education (AOR 1.50 95% CI 1.11–2.02), and had never used contraceptive (AOR 1.69 95% CI 1.25–2.29) compared with their counterparts. Current school attendance was associated with a 66% reduction in the probability of having an unintended pregnancy. Participants of the qualitative study stated that the desire to maintain a relationship, poor contraceptive knowledge, misinformation about contraceptive side effects, and lack of trusted mentors were the main reasons for their unintended pregnancies. Conclusion A massive burden of unintended pregnancy exists among sexually active adolescent girls in the study setting. Adolescent boys and girls need better access to sexuality education and contraceptives in the study setting to reduce early unintended pregnancy.

Menstrual Hygiene Practices of Adolescent Girls in Rural Maharashtra

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-137
Author(s):  
Sumit Aggarwal ◽  
Deepti Ambalkar ◽  
Jayaprakasam Madhumathi ◽  
Vijay Badge ◽  
Arun Humne
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Knowledge Dissemination ◽  
Personal Interview ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Sanitary Products ◽  
Sanitary Pads ◽  
The Right

Menstrual practices of adolescent girls in rural parts of India are greatly influenced by taboos and socio-cultural beliefs. In this study, the menstrual hygiene practices and beliefs of 122 adolescent girls between the ages of 13 and 19 years from rural Maharashtra were evaluated by personal interview and questionnaires. None of the girls had the right scientific knowledge about menstruation and were isolated during menstruation. They used cloth or home-made sanitary pads and were at risk of infections. There is a dire need for knowledge dissemination among school children and their families, increased awareness of menstrual hygiene and access to the requisite sanitary products in rural areas.

scholarly journals Prevalence of pre-diabetes/type 2 diabetes among adolescents (10–19 years) and its association with different measures of overweight/obesity in India: a gendered perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeep Kumar ◽  
Shobhit Srivastava ◽  
Prem Shankar Mishra ◽  
E. T. Krishnan Mooss
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
National Level ◽  
Skinfold Thickness ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Adolescent Boys ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Subscapular Skinfold Thickness

Abstract Background The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated that 1.1 million children and adolescents aged 14–19 years are living with diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose. It is also recognized as a complex disease that affects people of different ages due to different causes. The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of pre-diabetes/diabetes at the national level. Additionally, the respective study determines the factors associated with pre-diabetes/diabetes conditions among adolescents at the national level. Methods The data for this study was carried out from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS), the first-ever nationally representative nutrition survey of children and adolescents in India. The study used a sample size of 17,865 adolescent boys and 17,965 adolescent girls for the analysis. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and logistic regression analysis were done to carve out the results. Results The prevalence of pre-diabetes/diabetes was 12.3% and 8.4% among adolescent boys and girls in India, respectively. Body mass index and Subscapular skinfold thickness were the two most important predictors of pre-diabetes/diabetes among adolescents. Further, physical activities show a negative association with pre-diabetes/diabetes. Moreover, interaction models in the present study clearly reveal the fact that adolescent girls were less likely to suffer from pre-diabetes/diabetes than adolescent boys. Additionally, it was found that the prevalence of pre-diabetes/diabetes was high among adolescent girls from lower socio-economic strata. Conclusion The high prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes among adolescents portrayed serious public health concern in India. As body mass index and Subscapular skinfold thickness were positively associated with pre-diabetes/diabetes conditions among adolescents. Therefore, effective approaches are needed to be taken to tackle these pre-diabetes/diabetes conditions among adolescents and especially among adolescent boys.

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