Menstrual Problems and Health Seeking in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Menstruation is associated with some morbidity, although it is a normal physiological event. In this article, we draw on qualitative research conducted in Sri Lanka in 2006-2007, which included eight key informant interviews with healthcare providers, six focus group discussions with eight women in each, and five case studies. We describe and analyze women's perceptions of menstruation and menstrual problems, their help-seeking behaviors to reduce these health problems, and the consequences of them on their lives. The majority of women perceived menstruation as a physiological process and related problems to changes in hormone levels, pathological conditions of the uterus, and the side effects of contraceptive methods. Menstrual problems significantly affected their daily activities, mental well-being, social life, and sexual life, but few sought medical advice to resolve these problems. Implications of the findings included the need for health care providers and educators to provide accurate information on menstruation to girls and women to enable them to identify normal variation of menstruation and to take appropriate action regarding health care.

Women’s and girls’ experiences of menstruation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis

“…In contrast, girls who had received information before menarche described more positive experiences. Where investigated, women and girls also lacked clarity on what constituted normal and abnormal (i.e., disordered) menstruation [47, 73, 85, 105, 109].…”

“…In studies of those with dysmenorrhea or menstrual disorders, some participants were embarrassed to seek help. Others reported pursuing multiple avenues such as doctors and herbalists or community healers in attempts to receive effective treatment for their pain [103–105, 109].…”

Gynecological Morbidity among Women in Reproductive Age: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Women were associated with causes of this morbidity with curse, evil eye, watch craft, excessive body heat, and sterilization. Some women accept the problem as normal health ill of women; as a result, they do not seek care [42,43]. Certain untreated conditions can cause pregnancy related complications, congenital infections, infertility, chronic pain and significantly increase the risk of acquiring Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and HIV [41].…”

Coping Strategies of Older Rural Bangladeshi Women With Health Problems

“…There is evidence that many ailments suffered by older women in developing countries go untreated due to financial barriers in accessing health care, discrimination, unevenly distributed services between rural and urban areas, unfriendly treatment, and patriarchal decision-making processes (Ahmed et al, 2003;Hemachandra & Manderson, 2009;Hossen & Westhues, 2011;Kabir et al, 2003;Santow, 1995;Uzma, Underwood, Atkinson, & Thackrah, 1999). Studies have consistently shown that elders residing in rural areas have expressed a need for more accessible, equitable, and respectful health services (Hosain & Chatterjee, 1998;Hossen & Westhues, 2011;Reddy, 1996) and that women utilize modern health services less often than their male counterparts (Rahman, 2006).…”