Menstrual knowledge and practices amongst secondary school girls in lle lfe,Nigeria

Abstract

The menstrual knowledge and practices of 352 randomly selected healthy Nigerian schoolgirls were studied. 187 (53.1 %) had attained menarche. 40% of subjects were deficient in knowledge about menstruation. Although menstrual knowledge was higher in post-menarcheal girls, 10% of these were totally ignorant about menses and 84% were not psychologically prepared for the first menses. Girls' menstrual knowledge was positively associated with parental education. The major source of menstrual information was the family. Although more than half of the girls menstruated regularly, 66.3 %, used insanitary materials as menstrual absorbent. The mean duration of menstrual flow was 4.32 ± 1.15 days (mean ± SD) with a range of 3 - 7 days in 95.2% of the study population.

There is an acute need for education and psychological preparation of girls for menstruation well ahead of menarche.

Keywords

Menstruation menarche knowledge practice adolescence hygiene pattern mother

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Baldwin S.E. and Baranoski M.V. (1990). Family interaction and sex education in the home . Adolescence, 25 (99): 573-82

Coker A.L. , Richter D.L. , Valois R.F. , M E. , Garrison C.Z. and Vincent M.L. (1994). Correlates and consequences of early initiation of sexual intercourse. J Sch Health; 64 (9): 372-7

Dickinson G.E. (1978). Adolescent sex information sources: 1964-74. Adolescence-, 13 (52): 653-8

Dilorio C. , Kelly M. and Hockenberry-Eaton M. (1999). Communication about sexual issues: mothers, fathers and friends. J Adolesc Health; 24 (3): 181-9

Drakshayani Devi K. and Venkata Rama P. (1994). A study on menstrual hygiene among rural adolescent girls. Indian J Med Sci.; 48 (6): 139 - 43

Flug O. , Largo R.H. and Prader A. (1984). Menstrual patterns in adolescent Swiss girls: a longitudinal study. Ann Hum Biol.; 11 (8): 495-508 Harow S.D. and Campbell B. (1996). Ethnic differences in the duration and amount of menstrual bleeding during the post-menarcheal period . Am J. Epidemiol.; 144 (10): 980-8

Havens B. and Swenson I. (1986). Menstrual perceptions and preparation among female adolescents. J Obstet Gynaecol Neonatal Nurs.; 15(5): 406-11

James A. (1997). Menstrual hygiene: a study of knowledge and practices . The Nurs J India.; LXXXVIII (10): 221-2

Koff E. and Rierdan J. (1995a). Early adolescent girls understanding of menstruation . Women Health; 22(4): 1-21

10.

Koff E. and Rierdan J. (1995b). Preparing girls for menstruation: recommendations from adolescent girls. Adolescence; 30 (20): 795-811

11.

Korah L. (1991). Knowledge and perceptions regarding menstruation among adolescent girls. The Nurs J lndia.; LXXXII (7): 205-9

12.

Koshi E.P. , Prasad B.G. and Bhushan V. (1970). A study of the menstrual pattern of schoolgirls in an urban area. Indian J Med Res.; 58 (11):1647-52

13.

Miller K.S. , Kotchick B.A. , Dorsey S. , Forehand R. and Ham A.Y. (1998). Family communication about sex: what are parents saying and are their adolescents listening? Fam Plann Perspect ; 30 (119): 667-75

14.

Noller P. and Bagi S. (1985). Parent-adolescent communication. J Adolesc.; 12: 125-44

15.

Pick S. and Balos PA (1995). Impact of family on sex lives of adolescents. Adolescence; 30 (19): 667-75

16.

Pitt E. ( 1986). Targeting the adolescent male. J Community Health; 11 (1): 45-8

17.

Rierdan J. , Koff E. and Flaherty J. (1983). Guidelines for preparing girls for menstruation . J Am Acad Child Psychiatry, 22 (5): 480-6

18.

Thomas B.H. , Dicenso A. and Griffith L. (1998). Adolescent sexual behaviour: results from an Ontario sample. Part I: Adolescent sexual activity. Can J Public Health; 89 (2): 90-3

19.

Turker S.K. (1989). Adolescent patterns of communication about sexually related topics. Adolescence; 24 (94): 269-78

20.

Uche G.O. , Okafor A.E. and Okoro A.O. (1986). The pattern of early menstrual cycles in Nigerian girls. Ann Hum Biol.; 13 (1) 83-6

21.

Whisnant L. , Brett E. and Zegans L. (1975). Implicit messages concerning menstruation in commercial materials prepared for young adolescent girls. Am J Psychiatry , 132 (8): 815-20