Comparison of Menstrual Care Skills Training Programs Provided to Girls with Intellectual Disabilities By a Healthcare Professional and Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of the training provided by the professional and caregivers in developing menstrual care skills of girls with intellectual disabilities. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 22 moderate girls with intellectual disabilities randomly assigned to G-I and G-II. Both groups received training program using chaining technique and modeling on a doll and on itself for 8 weeks. Assessments were made on the 1, 15, 30 and 60 days. Results: The girls’ median age was 15 (14–18) years. Scores skill of menstrual care were significantly increased in both groups (p < .05; effect size = 0.61). G-I’s a pad placement and changing dirty pad skill scores were higher than G-II (p = 0.05; effect size = 0.44). Conclusion: The training process performing by caregivers can be affected by the complexity of the menstrual self-care skills. School-parents cooperation-based reproductive health programs may be facilitated the teaching of complex menstrual care skills of girls with intellectual disabilities.