Abstract
Introduction Perception regarding menstruation is insufficiently acknowledged. Lack of adequate perception towards menstruation may make girls vulnerable to mental, emotional, and physical problems. This might also be a reason for the failure of menstrual hygiene practice which in turn can have multiple social and health consequences. Objective To assess the perception and correlation regarding menstruation among adolescent high school girls in Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a randomly selected 791 adolescent high school girls at the Gedeo zone through the multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were entered to EPi Info version 3.5 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 for analysis. Frequency tables were used to describe study variables. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed to determine the level of significance. Result From a total of 806 adolescent girls that were invited to participate in the study, 791 (98.1%) participated. The mean (±SD) age of respondents was 16.3 (±4.7) years. Living alone in dormitories {OR = 1.75 CI = (1.07, 2.85)}, lower maternal educational status {OR = 4.03, CI = (2.41, 6.74)}, and age of menarche before 12 years {OR = 2.07, CI = (1.02, 4.24)} were factors statistically associated with unfavorable perception regarding menstruation. Conclusion Most high school girls had an unfavorable perception regarding menstruation. Living alone, lower maternal educational status, and age of menarche before 12 years were factors with statistically significant association with unfavorable perception regarding menstruation. This demonstrates a need to design and implement advocacy programs.
Highlights
E onset of the first menstrual period is a qualitative event of major significance changes in a woman’s life, denoting the achievement of major functional states in social, occupational, and health-related aspects [4]. e bodily changes associated with puberty will have an impact in the girl’s physical, psychological, and social development and self-image
E poor menstrual hygiene practice increases vulnerability to reproductive tract infections (RTI) and GUT infection [20]. e infection can be transmitted to the offspring of the pregnant mother too [5]. is calls a comprehensive effort to minimize community misperceptions about menstruation right from their adolescent ages [21, 22]. is may help in mitigating the suffering of millions of women [23]. Despite this missed opportunity and its public health significance, perception regarding menstruation has not received adequate attention in many developing countries, especially Ethiopia [24, 25]. erefore, the current study was aimed to assess the level of perceptions and associated factors regarding menstruation among adolescent high school girls, in Southern Ethiopia
From a total of 806 adolescent girls invited to participate in the study, 791 (98.1%) participated. e mean (±SD) age of respondents was 16.3 (±4.7) years
Summary
Menstruation is typically a universal phenomenon unique to the females during a woman’s reproductive age [1]. e onset of menstruation is one of the most important changes occurring among the girls during their adolescent years, which most commonly occurs between 11 and 15 years with a mean age of 13 years [2]. is is the ideal time in which girls join high schools and colleges [3]. E onset of menstruation is one of the most important changes occurring among the girls during their adolescent years, which most commonly occurs between 11 and 15 years with a mean age of 13 years [2]. Young girls experience more misperception and traditional beliefs than adult women [7] as they have no adequate information from the public, families, and peers regarding menses due to social taboo of discussion regarding these issues. Is may help in mitigating the suffering of millions of women [23] Despite this missed opportunity and its public health significance, perception regarding menstruation has not received adequate attention in many developing countries, especially Ethiopia [24, 25]. Despite this missed opportunity and its public health significance, perception regarding menstruation has not received adequate attention in many developing countries, especially Ethiopia [24, 25]. erefore, the current study was aimed to assess the level of perceptions and associated factors regarding menstruation among adolescent high school girls, in Southern Ethiopia
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