Attitudes and practices of school‐aged girls towards menstruation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to (i) investigate attitude and menstruation-related practices in Jordanian school-aged girls; (ii) identify the influence of premenstrual preparation on girls' attitude and menstruation-related practices. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Data was collected from a convenience sample of 490 school-age girls (12-18 years) from different districts in Jordan. Self-report instruments [Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), and Menstrual Practices Questionnaires (MPQ)] were used to assess the study variables. Descriptive statistics, correlation and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. It was found that menstrual attitude and practices were positively correlated. Poor attitude toward menstruation and low menstrual practices were significantly associated with inadequate premenstrual preparation. There is a need to prepare girls for menstruation before menarche. The role of the schools and teachers should be reinforced through formal and well planned reproductive health educators for girls and their mothers.

A comparison of the menstruation and education experiences of girls in Tanzania, Ghana, Cambodia and Ethiopia

“…Important new insights were revealed regarding the roles of parents in contributing to girls' fear and confusion around menarche, the tremendous secrecy around menses in select contexts and the global nature of insufficient MHM guidance. While some of these findings resonate with those of recent peer-reviewed studies and reports from the grey literature (Crofts and Fisher 2012;Fehr 2010;Jarrah and Kamel 2011;McMahon et al 2011;Sommer 2009a; Sommer and Ackatia-Armah 2012; WaterAid 2009), additional research is needed to better understand country-specific menstrual etiquette, reinforcement of gendered behaviours, and physical and social challenges for girls in the school environment that emerged from these four studies.…”

Menstrual Hygiene Practice and Associated Factors among Secondary School Girls in Wegera District, Northwest Ethiopia; a Cross-Sectional Study

“…A study done on comparison of the menstruation and education experiences of girls in Africa reported 84% of girls in Afghanistan never wash their genital areas, where as 80% of girls in Afghanistan use water but no soap for washing their menstrual protection and 30% of girls in Malawi do not use the latrine when menstruating. This was also noted by 20% of women in communities in India [12,13]. A study in Nigeria on the practice of menstrual hygiene of girls 73 (60%) changed sanitary pads three times a day,whereas similar studies reported 11% of girls in Ethiopia and 60% of girls in India only change their menstrual cloths once a day [2,14].…”

Dysmenorrhea: Prevalence and Impact on Quality of Life among Young Adult Jordanian Females

“…7e9 This is partly due to the fact that menstrual issues, including menstrual pain and abnormal menstrual flow, are considered socially taboo subjects. 3,10 Thus, population studies on the normal and abnormal features of menstruation and its related health problems are scarce in Arab societies. However, knowledge on this issue is necessary for patient education and to guide clinicians and health care providers towards the best possible clinical outcome.…”