Teaching menstrual care skills to intellectually disabled female students

Altundağ, Sebahat; Çalbayram, Nazan Çakırer

doi:10.1111/jocn.13215

Cited by 35 publications

(53 citation statements)

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“…Five studies (23%) investigated MHM training given to people with intellectual impairments [35, 37, 43, 46, 47]. One study highlighted a lack of training and support provided to this group because carers did not believe that the individual would understand MHM information [35].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic review of menstrual hygiene management requirements, its barriers and strategies for disabled people

et al. 2019

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BackgroundOne quarter of the global population is of menstruating age, yet menstruation is shrouded in discrimination and taboos. Disability also carries stigma, so disabled people may face layers of discrimination when they are menstruating. The objective of the review is to assess the menstrual hygiene requirements of disabled people, the barriers they face, and the available interventions to help them manage their menstruation hygienically and with dignity.MethodsEligible studies, gathered across all countries, were identified by conducting searches across four databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Global Health) in May 2017, with alerts set on each database to highlight new titles added until April 2018. Eligible studies incorporated analyses relevant to menstruating disabled people and/or how their carers provide support during their menstrual cycle.ResultsThe 22 studies included were published since 1976; the majority after 2010 (n = 12; 55%). One study was a quasi-experiment; all others were observational. Most studies (n = 15; 68%) were from high income countries and most (n = 17; 77%) focused on people with intellectual impairments, so the review findings focus on this group and their carers. Outcomes investigated include choice and preference of menstrual product, ability to manage menstrual hygiene and coping strategies applied. Barriers faced included a lack of standardised guidance for professional carers; a lack of menstruation training, information and support provided to people with intellectual impairments and their carers; a lack of understanding of severity of symptoms experienced by people with intellectual impairments, the high cost of menstrual products and lack of appropriate options for people with physical impairments. Few interventions were found, and strategies for menstrual hygiene management applied by carers of persons with intellectual impairments include limiting the disabled person’s movements when menstruating and suppressing their menstruation.ConclusionsLittle evidence was identified on the requirements of disabled people and their carers in managing their menstruation, and only one intervention, but a range of barriers were identified. This gap in evidence is important, as the consequences of failing to meet menstrual hygiene needs of disabled people includes shame, social isolation, and even sterilisation.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42018095497.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic review of menstrual hygiene management requirements, its barriers and strategies for disabled people

et al. 2019

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“…More than half of participants in the present study reported intellectual impairment; previous research indicates that with support women with intellectual impairment(s) and/or high support needs can understand and accept their menstruation [2,23] however, this is best achieved via the provision of menstrual education in the years leading up to menarche allowing time for knowledge acquisition and practice [12], and if the teaching tools and approaches are adapted to meet participants specific learning needs [31]. Menstrual interventions in Bangladesh for young adolescent women with CP and their mothers need to address these considerations and the conflicting requirement of menarche as a pathway to knowledge, as well as be physically, financially and socially accessible and inclusive.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

‘Flower of the body’: menstrual experiences and needs of young adolescent women with cerebral palsy in Bangladesh, and their mothers providing menstrual support

et al. 2020

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Background: This study offers voice to young adolescent women with cerebral palsy (CP) in Bangladesh as they describe their menstrual experiences and needs, and their mothers providing menstrual support. Method: Semi-structured focus groups with adolescents with CP, and separately their mother. Data was analysed using a material discursive framework and drawing on feminist disability theory. Participants were recruited from the Bangladesh CP Register (BCPR); a population-based surveillance of children and adolescents with CP in rural Bangladesh. Results: Participants were 45 women including 12 female adolescents with CP and 33 female caregivers. Participants reported a wide range of experiences and needs; menarche acted as a gateway to menstrual information although for some a discourse of silence prevailed due to exclusion from peer and familial networks. Menstruation was discursively constructed as a sign of 'female maturation' marked by an expectation of 'independence', required for acceptance into socially valued adult roles, and was positioned alongside increased vulnerability to sexual abuse. Young adolescent women with CP were expected to 'quietly endure' the material aspects of menstruation although unmanaged pain and distress were described. Mothers reported an imperative for meeting their adolescent's menstrual needs however this role was discursively positioned as 'painful', 'irritating' and 'shameful', in part due to an absence of affordable, functional menstrual resources. Conclusion: The findings of the present study provide motivation for disability services in Bangladesh to account for the menstrual needs of young adolescent women with CP within service delivery through strategies such as providing menstrual education and by embedding value in constructs such as 'interdependence'. Moreover, interventions focused on alleviating menstrual pain among young adolescent women with CP as well as those targeted to alleviate distress among mothers providing menstrual care are required. Finally, policy responses are required to ensure that 'inclusive development' considers the needs of menstruating women with disability.

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“…It was thought that these positive improvements in the habits of the teenagers might be derived from the activities within the training program designed for menstrual hygiene. Other studies have shown that training given to teenagers with ID positively affected their hygiene habits during the menstrual period (Altundag & Calbayram, ; Epps, Stern, & Horner, ; Kuloglu‐Aksaz & Firat, ; Richman, Ponticas, Page, & Epps, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In some cultures, there are false (superstitious) beliefs such as considering women dirty during menstruation and isolating them from society. Other such beliefs include considering swimming, taking a shower, having dental treatment, and doing exercises as harmful and thinking that women lose too much blood by changing hygienic pads (Altundag & Calbayram, ; Atabey & Nazbak, ; Sakar, Ozkan, Sarac, Atabey, & Nazbak, ). Emergence of such behaviors might also be influenced by the environment in which the teenagers were living, the family situation, and educational status of their parents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adolescent girls discuss this topic with their mothers and/or sisters, but the information available is not always accurate or sufficient. Although the menstrual period is a distressing time even for women without ID, it is more difficult for adolescents with ID to cope with this condition (Altundag & Calbayram, ). Remedying the lack of information about menstruation and perineal cleaning during puberty available to these girls with ID and correcting improper practices concerning this topic may provide significant contributions to the protection and promotion of their health (Arikan et al, ; Guler et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the Effects of a Personal Hygiene Program on the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Intellectual Disabilities Teenagers and their Parents

Şener

Aydın

Cangür

2019

Policy Practice Intel Disabi

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To determine the effects of personal hygiene training on the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behavior of teenagers with mild intellectual disabilities (ID), this study employed a randomized controlled type, social cognitive theory design. A 10‐week, 10‐session program was given to the teenagers (17.38 ± 1.61 years) and their parent. Included in the program were activities covering the washing of hands/face/hair/body, oral hygiene/brushing teeth, clothing hygiene, and menstrual and genital hygiene. At the end of the program and again 3 months later, the personal hygiene habits of the teenagers were significantly improved compared to before the training program. Significantly positive changes were observed in hygiene habits compared to pretraining (p < .001). Compared to pretraining, a significant increase occurred in the skill behavior demonstrated by the teenagers (p < .001). Consequently, it is recommended that the program be implemented by healthcare professionals for all teenagers with mild ID and their parents.

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Teaching menstrual care skills to intellectually disabled female students

Abstract: To achieve improved success in life, it is important that adolescents assume the responsibility of self-care and manage sustained care activity on their own.

Cited by 35 publications

References 20 publications

Systematic review of menstrual hygiene management requirements, its barriers and strategies for disabled people

Systematic review of menstrual hygiene management requirements, its barriers and strategies for disabled people

‘Flower of the body’: menstrual experiences and needs of young adolescent women with cerebral palsy in Bangladesh, and their mothers providing menstrual support

Evaluating the Effects of a Personal Hygiene Program on the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Intellectual Disabilities Teenagers and their Parents

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