Menarche, Menstruation related Problems and Practices among Adolescent High School Girls in Addis Ababa, 2003/04
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Date
2004-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This is a school-based cross-sectional study conducted among female adolescents who
were enrolled for 2003/04 academic year in Addis Ababa Secondary Schools. It was
done as part of the curriculum for partial fulfillment of master degree in public health.
Pathfinder International and Packard Foundation sponsored it.
The study was conducted on randomly selected 863 students. The study looked at
research questions such as age at menarche and its correlates; role of parents, schools
and friends in the process of maturation; how they are prepared and dealt with
menarche, and the current practices; and menstrual hygiene and suitability of school
environment during menstruation with its effect on learning process. To reach at the
desired objectives, different instruments were used. These were Pre-tested self
administered questionnaire; Key informant interview, checklist for observation and
focus group discussion.
The study revealed that the mean age at menarche was (13.72±1.31) years. The
dominant sources of information and advice on menstruation and how to deal with were
teachers, mothers, elder sisters and friends. Fathers and brothers were the least
consulted. Almost all girls hadn’t expected their menstruation when it happened for the
first time. Seventy seven percent of them believed that menstruation was not a female
matter which should be kept for oneself, not to talk of it openly to others; 54% of them
hadn’t told any body. Girls preferred to get information on menstrual matters from
female teachers, mothers, female health personnel friends and elder sisters in their
descending order. The most felt needs during early days of menarche were menstrual
soak ups and information. Sixty one percent of the girls used rag made soak ups during
menarche while the current practice showed that only 52% of them used rag made.
Seventy four percent of girls reported to have health problems related to menstruation
where abdominal/backache and mood change were the most reported. Absenteeism
due to menstruation related health problems was 51%, majority of them for one day
when the occurrence of menstruation coincided with week days.
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In Addis Ababa adolescent girls reach at menarche while they are still in elementary
schools, before they get sufficient information and counseling on menstruation or how
to deal with it. Though most of the girls apparently had classes or obtained information
on menstruation related facts that focused more on biologic and hygienic aspect,
basically they didn’t address the psychosocial factors. This directly or indirectly may
contribute to absenteeism. Besides this, the poor school facilities that couldn’t respond
well to the needs of menstruating girls and lack of concern for its management at
school are the areas that need attention.
Hence, schools should provide the minimum acceptable, desirable and affordable
standardized menstrual hygiene for girls. Health education or any education related to
ARH, maturation process, should focus and complete the parent-student-teacher circle.
Intervention programs focusing on school health should work in line with improving this
situation as well as take this advantage as a good entry point to addressing other ARH
problems including HIV/AIDS.
Key words: Age at menarche, Menstrual Hygiene, Absenteeism due
menstruation related health problems and Sexuality
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Keywords
Age at menarche, Menstrual Hygiene, Absenteeism due menstruation related health problems and Sexuality