Abstract
Background: To study issues related to menstruation and health seeking practices to address the importance of the reproductive health of adolescent girls. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Surkhet district, Province 6 of Western Nepal. Information was collected from four focus group discussions (FGDs). Two FGDs were conducted among adolescent girls and remaining two from mothers having adolescent daughters. Results: FGDs show that most of the adolescent girls were shy and anxious during menarche. Some of them could not tell their mother too. Majority of them restricted to do some activities and consume some food items during menstruation. Yet, the practice of visiting“dhami jhakri” and then only going to the health facility after the problem has become severe. Although menstruation is normal physiology, in Nepal menstruating woman is categorized as “impure”, “polluted” and victimized in the form of “Chhaupadi Pratha”. The misconception that “females touching others during their menstruation brings God’s curse to their home and families” is still rampant in Western Nepal. Conclusion: Concerned authorities should conduct health promotion activities to address menstrual hygiene and other traditional practices among adolescent girls in the Western Nepal. The findings of this study will be useful for healthcare professional and administrator to improve the reproductive health status of the adolescent.
Highlights
Adolescence is referred as a phase of rapid physical and cognitive growth
Adolescent girls from Public schools of Rural and Urban Municipality were recruited for focus group discussion
Two focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among adolescent girls and remaining two from mothers having adolescent daughters
Summary
Adolescence is referred as a phase of rapid physical and cognitive growth. World Health Organization (WHO) defines people of age group between 10 to years as adolescence. In Nepal adolescents comprise 24 percent of the total population [1].”. In this transition from childhood to adulthood they become vulnerable to a number of problems such as psychosocial problems, general and reproductive health problems, sexuality related problems that requires special protection and attention [2].”. To study issues related to menstruation and health seeking practices to address the importance of the reproductive health of adolescent girls. Two FGDs were conducted among adolescent girls and remaining two from mothers having adolescent daughters. Conclusion: Concerned authorities should conduct health promotion activities to address menstrual hygiene and other traditional practices among adolescent girls in the Western Nepal. The findings of this study will be useful for healthcare professional and administrator to improve the reproductive health status of the adolescent
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