School-aged Girls Research Articles

1 Perceived Cognitive Impairment in High School Students in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective:The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), conducted by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2019, revealed that a large percentage of boys (30%) and girls (45%) reported serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions as a result of a physical, mental, or emotional problem. In 2021, the CDC conducted the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES). The ABES included similar methodology and content as the YRBS. This study analyzed ABES data to examine correlates of perceived cognitive impairment among high school students in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.Participants and Methods:The ABES was a one-time, online survey that was conducted to assess and evaluate the challenges that high-school aged youth experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students’ perceived cognitive impairment was assessed using the same question used in the 2019 YRBS: 'Because of a physical, mental, or emotional problem, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?' Response options were binary: 'Yes’ or 'No.' The students’ responses were evaluated in relation to nine adversity, mental health, and lifestyle variables.Results:Participants were 6,992 students, age 14 to 18, with 3,294 boys (47%) and 3,698 girls (53%). A large proportion endorsed experiencing serious difficulties concentrating, remembering, and making decisions (45%). Girls (56%) were significantly more likely to endorse perceived cognitive impairment compared to boys (33%) [X2(1)=392.55, p<.001; OR=2.66, 95% CI=2.41-2.93]. Youth who reported that their mental health was poor most of the time or always were very likely to report perceived cognitive impairment (boys: 67%; girls: 81%). Binary logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between perceived cognitive impairment, adversity, and lifestyle variables while controlling for mental health. These analyses were conducted separately for boys [X2(9)=596.70, p<.001; Nagelkerke R2=.24] and girls [x2(9)=883.35, p<.001; Nagelkerke R2=.30]. After controlling for current mental health, significant independent predicters of cognitive problems in boys and girls included: a lifetime history of discrimination based on race or ethnicity, lifetime history of being sexually assaulted or abused, lifetime history of using illicit drugs, being bullied in the past year, current marijuana use, and getting insufficient sleep (5 of fewer hours per night). Participation in sports and exercising regularly were both independently associated with lower rates of cognitive impairment.Conclusions:Perceived cognitive impairment was endorsed by a strikingly high percentage of high school students in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of high school aged girls and one third of boys reported having serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions. These rates are considerably higher than in 2019. Current mental health, unfair treatment because of race or ethnicity, being sexually assaulted, being bullied, drug use, and insufficient sleep were associated with perceived cognitive impairment. Indicators of a physically active lifestyle (participation in sports and exercising regularly) were associated with lower rates of cognitive problems.

Implementing the free HPV vaccination for adolescent girls aged below 14 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China: experience, challenges, and lessons

Cervical cancer is a major public health concern in China, accounting for almost one-fifth of the global incidence and mortality. The recently prequalified domestic bivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine offers a practical and feasible preventive measure. In response to the global call for action, the National Health Commission issued an Action Plan to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, with promotion of the HPV vaccination for school-aged girls as a critical step. Despite this, implementation of the vaccination has been patchy, with very low coverage among eligible girls. To address this, from December 2021 to December 2022, a demonstration project was launched in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, to promote the inclusion of HPV vaccine in local immunisation programme and to address existing barriers to implementation. Using multiple sources of data, this article presents a case study of the demonstration project, analysing its impact on rolling out HPV vaccination among eligible girls and identifying any challenges encountered during implementation. The demonstration project has shown promising results in increasing the HPV vaccination rate, promoting public awareness and acceptance of the domestic HPV vaccine, and establishing a model for quickly scaling up the vaccination at the municipal level. The success of the project can be attributed to several factors, including strong governmental commitment, sufficient funding, multi-sectoral collaboration, ensured vaccine accessibility and affordability, improved vaccination services, and effective health education and communication strategies. Lessons learned from Shenzhen can provide valuable insights for future advocacy and implementation of the vaccination in other areas of China, but challenges must be addressed to achieve universal coverage. These include addressing vaccine hesitancy, expanding the programme to cover a broader age range, and ensuring consistent quality of vaccination services in primary care facilities. Overcoming these challenges will require innovative strategies, public-private partnerships, and sustained funding and resources. Future research should focus on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of the vaccination programme and identifying contextual factors that may impact its implementation in different settings. Overall, the effective control of cervical cancer in China will rely on the “political will” to ensure the incorporation of preventive interventions into policies and universal programme coverage.

Preference for human papillomavirus vaccine type and vaccination strategy among parents of school-age girls in Guangdong province, China

In China, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage among age-eligible girls is rather low, and parent’s attitude often plays a determinant role in their girls’ HPV vaccination. To accelerate HPV vaccination coverage, several cities and Guangdong province in China offered different HPV vaccine types with different reimbursement methods. In April 2022, we conducted a province-wide survey to investigate parents of children aged 9–15 in Guangdong province, and analyzed factors associated with their preference for HPV vaccine type and vaccination strategy. Of the 4,967 surveyed respondents, 2,610 (58.1%) have not yet vaccinated their children. Among these parents, 67.9% preferred to vaccinate their children with the nine-valent vaccine, while only 8.1% preferred the quadrivalent vaccine and 7.4% preferred the bivalent vaccine. More parents preferred fixed subsidies with free choices of HPV vaccine type over the domestic bivalent vaccine provided by the government (58.1% vs. 39.3%). The multinomial logistic regression showed that parents’ relationship with children, educational level, household income, and vaccination status were significantly associated with parents’ preference for HPV vaccine type. Parent’s relationship with children, workplace, household income, vaccination status, and age of children, were significantly associated with parents’ preference for HPV vaccination strategy. Our findings suggest that policymakers may consider adjusting the current vaccination strategy by offering more vaccination choices. More health education on HPV vaccine and vaccination should also be provided to parents of age-eligible girls. Future research should examine which HPV vaccination strategy is more effective in promoting HPV vaccine uptakes in China.

Perceptions Regarding Menstrual Cups among Medical Students of Tertiary Care Hospitals

Abstract Background: Menstruation is a normal body function and a sign of reproductive health. Today, there is a lot of discussion about menstrual hygiene and its management, which is important for the well-being of women everywhere. Due to traditional beliefs, a lack of awareness and information about ideal sanitary practices, and restricted availability of suitable and cheap menstrual hygiene products, managing menstruation hygiene can be difficult in low-income settings and among school-aged girls. The vaginal menstruation cup is an alternative to sanitary pads or tampons for managing menstrual hygiene. Aims: The aim the study is to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice on menstrual cups among medical students of tertiary medical college. Methodology: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 247 medical students of JSS Medical College, JSS AHER, Mysuru. Data were collected using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included sociodemographic profile and questions regarding students’ knowledge, perception, and menstrual cup usage. Data were entered into a Microsoft Excel sheet, and scoring was done and analyzed into descriptive statistics like percentages. Results: Out of 247 students, 98% were aware of menstrual cups and 118 (47.7%) had good knowledge of menstrual cups, 105 (42.5%) had a positive attitude regarding the usage of cups, and 16 (6.4%) practiced using menstrual cups. 59.9% of students reported media as their source of information. Conclusion: The study concludes that even though 98% were aware of menstrual cups, <50% have good knowledge, positive attitude, and practice. Limited knowledge and misconception regarding the menstrual cup should be addressed for better menstrual health and practice.

Transformation of 21st Century Surau-Based Education

Transformation education needs to reorganize, update and adapt the education system in the 21st century This study aims to analyze and describe the transformation of surau-based education in the 21st century in shaping the character of the religious Minang generation in Padang. This research uses social construction theory proposed by Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckman. The research approach used is qualitative research with the case study method. The determination of informant criteria was carried out by means of purposive sampling. Data obtained through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data were analyzed by following the interactive data analysis model from Miles and Huberman which includes data reduction, data display, and verification or drawing conclusions. The results of the study show surau-based education in the 21st century is packaged in the form of Al-qur’an reading and writing programs at TPQ-TPA, didikkan subuh, wirid remaja, and youth boarding schools. Surau is interpreted today, no longer as it was before the 21st century, namely martial arts, and a place to sleep or where adult men gather but functions the same as a mushala and a mosque, namely a place of worship and learning that are not only for boys but also for girls of school age. The house of worship for Muslims in Padang is used as a means of implementing certified qur’anic educational institutions. The novelty in this research is the internalization of surau-based 21st century education values.

Developmental Trajectory of Conduct Problems Among Boys and Girls Receiving Psychoeducational Services at Elementary Schools.

Elementary public schools remain the most common venues for addressing children's severe conduct problems. Nevertheless, very few longitudinal studies have examined association between receiving psychoeducational services for conduct problems in school and subsequent conduct problem severity. This study explored if psychoeducational service reception contributed to reduce conduct problems in a sample of 434 elementary school-aged boys and girls presenting a high level of conduct problems. The study used a repeated measures design at 12-month intervals, for 4 years. Information regarding the severity of children's conduct problems and services was provided by parents and teachers. Latent Growth Modeling was used to identify a mean trajectory of conduct problems. Results revealed that psychoeducational services were associated with a decrease in conduct problems over time, but this association was only observed in boys. There was no association between service reception at study inception and the trajectory of conduct problems among girls. These results suggests that psychoeducational services are well suited to the difficulties of boys with conduct problems; however, they may call for a review of the services offered to girls in schools, both in terms of the detection of conduct problems in young girls, and in terms of their treatment options.

S14-5 Girls Active and Change4Life Sports Club - two effective programmes to increase physical activity in schools and colleges

Abstract Purpose Girls Active aims to tackle declining participation in physical activity of girls aged 10 to 18 and its associated implications on health, wellbeing and education. Change4Life Sports Clubs are designed to address inactivity in 7 to 11 year olds and improve healthy lifestyle behaviours with exercise, food and hydration. Both projects aim to reduce physical inactivity of those children suffering the greatest challenges to achieving the recommended daily physical activity level of an average of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Project description Both programmes were developed from evidence reviews and principles that work to engage, inspire and motivate targeted groups of children to be active. They were both developed by the children’s charity Youth Sport Trust, who have used sport and play to improve the lives of children and young people since 1995. They were co-designed with children and implemented through a national network of 450 School Games Organisers. Youth Sports Trust’s ‘content, delivery, structure’ model was used. For Girls Active we used the Active Lives Children Data from Sport England and Change4Life Sports Clubs were aligned to the Department of Health’s National Child Measurement Programme data to target where the programmes were most needed and to ensure that the right groups of children and young people were included in the interventions. Both programmes have been externally evaluated through academic partners using pre and post survey data, case studies and control elements and achieved high quality evidence scores. Both programmes have been scaled through a variety of funding streams including London 2012 Olympic Legacy, Sport England Lottery, Corporate Social Responsibility budgets and local public health funding. Girls Active has been adopted in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Conclusions We will share the evidence-based principles that have made these two approaches highly effective in addressing inactivity in primary school aged children and adolescent girls that can be applied in multiple contexts and will share resources and content that can be accessed following the session.

The impact of Social Media Affinity on eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction among school-age children and adolescent girls studying in Farasan governorate school, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Purpose: The use of the internet for social networking has become a global phenomenon, as the number of social network users worldwide increased from 2.3 billion in 2016 to around 2.6 billion in 2018. 92% of United States adolescents report daily usage of social media, and 24% of them go online “almost constantly”. This study aimed to evaluate the Impact of social media affinity on Eating Attitudes and Body Dissatisfaction among School and adolescent children. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Farasan school from January 2022 to February 2022. A total of 75 students were selected by the non-probability purposive sampling technique. 5-point Likert scale on social media affinity (13 items), Body dissatisfaction was assessed by BSQ 8-c, and a 4-point Likert scale (26 items) was used to assess the eating attitude.Results: The majority of participants were females (81%). Out of this 75% were using social media every day and half of the percentage (50.7%) using WhatsApp. The total mean score for social media affinity was 49.72±5.61 out of 55. It concludes that higher scores indicate higher social media affinity. The mean score for eating attitude was 53.48±9.74. It interprets that a cut-off score of 20 or above indicates children had a high risk of developing an eating disorder. The participants’ Body Shape Dissatisfaction Questionnaire mean score was 23.37±6.39. it shows scores less than 25 mean mild concerns with a shape that indicates probable cases of distorted body image. Conclusion: social media and peer pressure has greatly affected the lifestyle and eating choices of students. Emphasizing the importance of parenting style for adolescents’ sense of empowerment and underscoring the need for parental involvement in prevention programs.Keywords: Social media Affinity, Eating Attitudes, Body Dissatisfaction, School Age Children, Adolescent Girls

Mapping the Expertise and Understanding of Menarche, Menstrual Hygiene, and Menstrual Health among Adolescent Ladies in Low- and Center-Profit Nations

Mapping the Expertise and Understanding of Menarche, Menstrual Hygiene, and Menstrual Health among Adolescent Ladies in Low- and Center-Profit Nations

Higher levels of serum α-Klotho are longitudinally associated with less central obesity in girls experiencing weight gain.

Klotho is an anti-aging protein that reduces adiposity and increases caloric expenditure, among others. Although associations between secreted α-Klotho levels and obesity have been described, its relationship with central obesity and visceral fat accumulation during childhood is poorly understood. Our objective was to study the longitudinal associations between serum α-Klotho concentrations and obesity-related parameters in apparently healthy children. We studied a cohort of 208 apparently healthy school-age children (107 girls and 101 boys) assessed at baseline (mean age 8.5 ± 1.8 years) and at follow-up 4 years later. Serum α-Klotho concentrations were measured at baseline in all subjects. Obesity-related parameters, such as BMI, waist circumference, body fat, visceral fat, triglyceride levels, HOMA-IR index, and C-reactive protein were studied. Boys and girls were classified into 3 groups according to weight change between baseline and follow-up visits: weight loss, stable weight, or weight gain (based on a BMI-SDS change cut-off > 0.35 SD). In girls (N=107), but not in boys, we observed negative associations of serum α-Klotho protein with BMI, waist circumference, body fat, visceral fat, HOMA IR index, and C-reactive protein at baseline and also at follow-up. The associations of α-Klotho and obesity-related parameters were more evident in girls who exhibited weight gain. In such girls, multivariate regression analyses (adjusting for age, puberty and baseline weight/height ratio) showed that α-Klotho protein was negatively associated with follow-up BMI, waist circumference, and visceral fat (p = 0.003 to 0.028). For each 1 SD-increase in baseline α-Klotho, follow-up waist circumference decreased by 4.15 cm and visceral fat by 1.38 mm. In school-age girls, serum α-Klotho concentrations are longitudinally related to a more favorable metabolic profile. In girls experiencing weight gain, α-Klotho may prove to be a protective factor against the accumulation of visceral fat.

Associations of plasma retinol and α-tocopherol levels with skeletal muscle health in Chinese children.

Childhood is a critical period for muscle accumulation. Studies in elders have reported that antioxidant vitamins could improve muscle health. However, limited studies have assessed such associations in children. This study included 243 boys and 183 girls. A seventy-nine-item FFQ was used to investigate dietary nutrients intake. Plasma levels of retinol and α-tocopherol were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with MS. Dual X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and total body fat. The ASM index (ASMI) and ASMI Z-score were then calculated. Hand grip strength was measured using a Jamar® Plus+ Hand Dynamometer. Fully adjusted multiple linear regression models showed that for each unit increase in plasma retinol content, ASM, ASMI, left HGS and ASMI Z-score increased by 2·43 × 10-3 kg, 1·33 × 10-3 kg/m2, 3·72 × 10-3 kg and 2·45 × 10-3 in girls, respectively (P < 0·001-0·050). ANCOVA revealed a dose-response relationship between tertiles of plasma retinol level and muscle indicators (Ptrend: 0·001-0·007). The percentage differences between the top and bottom tertiles were 8·38 %, 6·26 %, 13·2 %, 12·1 % and 116 % for ASM, ASMI, left HGS, right HGS and ASMI Z-score in girls, respectively (Pdiff: 0·005-0·020). No such associations were observed in boys. Plasma α-tocopherol levels were not correlated with muscle indicators in either sex. In conclusion, high circulating retinol levels are positively associated with muscle mass and strength in school-age girls.

A-36 Performance of Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on the Sway Medical Mobile Balance and Cognitive Tests

Abstract Purpose There is a recognized need for more research relating to preseason balance and cognitive testing, as part of a sport-related concussion medical management program, for middle school children. We examined if preseason baseline performance on the Sway Medical Mobile Balance and Cognitive Tests differs by self-reported ADHD diagnosis in 12- and 13-year-old children. Methods Data from 2,501 children (49.1% girls) between 12- and 13-years-old (mean=13.64 years, standard deviation=0.48), tested in 2022, without a self-reported concussion in the past 6 months, were examined. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare balance and four cognitive test scores between children with and without self-reported ADHD, stratified by gender, and significance was set at p&amp;lt;.01. Results There were no significant differences on balance testing for boys or girls with ADHD compared to those without ADHD. Boys with ADHD performed slightly slower on the Impulse Control (p=.001, Hedge’s g=.14) and Inspection Time (p=.002, g=.22) tests than boys without ADHD. Girls with ADHD performed slightly slower on the Reaction Time test (p=.001, g=.33) than girls without ADHD. No differences were found on the Memory test for girls or boys. Conclusions Middle school aged boys and girls with ADHD did not perform worse on balance testing and some of the cognitive tests compared to children without ADHD. There were small magnitude differences on timed tests of Impulse Control and Inspection Time for boys and Reaction Time for girls, with youth who self-reported having ADHD performing slower than youth without ADHD.

How do Girls and Boys Feel Emotions? Gender Differences in Physical Education in Primary School

Abstract The main objective of the study was to analyze the emotional intensity experienced by school-age boys and girls when participating in traditional sports games. A total of 152 students from two primary schools participated. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to verify the distribution of the data, followed by Student’s parametric t-test for independent samples and Levene’s test for homogeneity of variance. Girls registered more intense positive emotions in games of lower decisional complexity (oppositional, cooperative, and individual games) and in non-competitive games compared to boys, who experienced positive emotions with greater intensity in cooperative-oppositional games and competitive games. Reducing sports stereotypes is necessary if the meaningful outcome of physical education is to promote shared emotional and relational well-being among all students. Therefore, traditional sports games can be an excellent tool for creating a positive impact on students’ social and emotional learning, as interpersonal relationships are key to the development of the game.

Parental migration, children and family reunification in China

AbstractIn this paper, we focus on migrant parents' decision to either bring children to the cities (family reunification) or leave them behind in China. We develop a framework to understand this decision, which takes into account child characteristics, characteristics of migrant parents and characteristics of migrant‐receiving communities. Our research design allows us to conduct comparison of rural‐origin children and urban‐origin children. The rural–urban differences are reflected in lowered probability of bringing children to cities, more hurdles for housing and access to public school education for rural migrant parents and their children. For rural‐origin school‐age children, gender inequality is persistent, that is, girls of school age are less likely to be brought to cities than boys. Finally, a piece of promising news is that migrant parents with more social interactions with local residents are more likely to bring children to destinations. The results suggest that years after China's official policy of ‘no extra fees’ for migrant children in urban public schools, migrant children, especially from rural areas, continue to face a variety of challenges in moving to cities and having access to local urban public schools.

Empowering High School Girls in a University-Led STEM Summer Camp

Women are less likely to choose STEM educational programs, hold STEM degrees, or enter the STEM labor force. Several factors contribute to this including intrinsic psychological factors, external environmental variables, academic mindsets, and STEM attitudes. This paper discusses a 10-day long STEM camp aimed at engaging high school girls in authentic field-based environmental research. The goal of the camp is to foster and encourage interest in STEM fields through hands-on laboratory experiences, discussions with female scientists, field trips, and a broad range of research-focused authentic scientific activities. The descriptive research study used observational qualitative and quantitative data to better understand and improve the future of informal STEM experiences for high school-aged girls. Results of the study found that girls were more likely to see themselves in STEM fields and exposure to authentic scientific research, hands-on fieldwork, and final research presentations promoted self-efficacy and confidence in their ability to undertake university-level research. Finally, the camp provided a place to engage with other females through academic and social collaboration.

Peer Interactions of School-Aged Girls on the Autism Spectrum: A Scoping Review

Abstract Although research on the experiences of females on the autism spectrum is still developing, it is becoming increasingly apparent that their experiences are not comparable to their male counterparts. This scoping review aimed to collate research related to the peer interaction experiences of school-aged girls on the autism spectrum from their perspective. A database and journal search (2010–2020) found 21 studies. Key findings indicated that although school-aged girls on the autism spectrum generally desired friendship, they faced diverse peer interaction difficulties, including making and maintaining friendships, peer victimisation, and rejection. Given these challenges, appropriate peer interaction supports and further research into the complexities of their peer interaction experience is needed.

Analysis of Pathogenic Bacteria and Drug Resistance Among Girls with Bacterial Vaginitis.

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of vaginal flora and drug resistance in bacterial vaginitis among girls. A total of 3099 girls (0-10 years old) with vaginitis who visited the Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 were included in the present study. The clinical data, results of bacterial culture of vaginal secretions, and drug sensitivity reports of the subjects were collected and analyzed. Of the 3099 girls with vaginitis, 399 girls had a positive bacterial culture of vaginal secretions. Nineteen types of bacteria were cultured from the vaginal secretions of these 399 girls, with a total of 419 strains. The top three infective bacteria were Haemophilus influenzae (127 strains, 30.31%), Staphylococcus aureus (66 strains, 15.75%), and Streptococcus agalactiae (32 strains, 7.64%). Additionally, 20 girls were simultaneously infected with two types of bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus, Group G Streptococcus, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa more frequently occurred in mixed infections. The number and bacterial detection rate among school-age girls were higher than those of preschool-age girls. We found seasonal variation in infection rates, and vaginitis among girls was higher in summer. Recurrence of vaginitis in girls was not related to the type of pathogenic bacteria in the infection. Drug sensitivity analyses showed that the resistance rates of clindamycin and erythromycin were generally high, 70-100%. After the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak, the resistance rates of some antibiotics had decreased to varying degrees. Improving the understanding of vaginal flora and drug resistance in girls with vaginitis will facilitate the selection of highly effective and sensitive antibacterial drugs and reduce the production of drug-resistant strains.

Compositional PLS biplot based on pivoting balances: an application to explore the association between 24-h movement behaviours and adiposity

Movement behaviour data are compositional in nature, therefore the logratio methodology has been demonstrated appropriate for their statistical analysis. Compositional data can be mapped into the ordinary real space through new sets of variables (orthonormal logratio coordinates) representing balances between the original compositional parts. Geometric rotation between orthonormal logratio coordinates systems can be used to extract relevant information from any of them. We exploit this idea to introduce the concept of pivoting balances, which facilitates the construction and use of interpretable balances according to the purpose of the data analysis. Moreover, graphical representation through ternary diagrams has been ordinarily used to explore time-use compositions consisting of, or being amalgamated into, three parts. Data dimension reduction techniques can however serve well for visualisation and facilitate understanding in the case of larger compositions. We here develop suitable pivoting balance coordinates that in combination with an adapted formulation of compositional partial least squares regression biplots enable meaningful visualisation of more complex time-use patterns and their relationships with an outcome variable. The use and features of the proposed method are illustrated in a study examining the association between movement behaviours and adiposity from a sample of Czech school-aged girls. The results suggest that an adequate strategy for obesity prevention in this group would be to focus on achieving a positive balance of vigorous physical activity in combination with sleep against the other daily behaviours.

Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and the Way Forward-A Brief Review

Menstruating girls confront a variety of obstacles in school settings, challenges that can have an impact on their safety, education, health and wellbeing, and even their sense of self-worth. Global attention has recently been focused on the difficulties schoolgirls face managing their menstrual hygiene, especially in low-income countries. Therefore, enhancing Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) for girls globally will enhance their lifestyle in a variety of ways. It will also assist to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), such as SDG 3 on excellent health, SDG 4 on good education, SDG 5 on gender egalitarianism, and SDG 6 on the need for safe water and sanitation. Even though there are more evident supportive decisions and investments needed in policy and programming, remarkable progress has been made in the engagement of relevant sectors involved in this issue. To ensure MHM programs are furthering equality, it is still important to include groups for the larger agenda. Girls who are differently abled, school dropouts, girls in co-educational schools, and girls in emergency situations are some of the examples. By 2024, all girls should be made aware of and at ease with their menstrual cycles, and they should manage them in a pleasant, safe, and respectable manner while attending school. The "MHM in Ten" meeting, which was held in 2014, envisioned to create a ten-year framework (2014-2024) for MHM in schools. It was organized by UNICEF and Columbia University. In relevant to this vision, five remarkable priorities were established. This article summarizes the key insights to address and support the importance of global commitments towards MHM to expand its progress to reach its vision by 2024. This paper also reviews the present knowledge gaps in research on MHM in school-aged girls and emphasize prospects to draw the attention of government sectors, funders, and other organizations to allocate adequate resources. In summary, despite significant advances in the evidence base for MHM research, there are still a few critical disparities present in the current collective understanding. New studies are required to close these gaps which should suffice the needs of the international community to comprehend the scope of MHM problems among schoolgirls, the efficacy of MHM initiatives, and the expenses associated with their implementation. It is also necessary to create an efficient puberty policy for the educational field emphasizing MHM and menstruation education.

Sociocultural-psychological predictors influencing parents' decision-making regarding HPV vaccination for their adolescent daughters in mainland China: An extended TPB model.

Enhancing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake rates to protect women's health is an important public health issue worldwide. China has taken a series of measures in recent years to promote HPV vaccination among school-aged girls, but the vaccine uptake rate remains low. Investigating the factors influencing vaccination-related decision-making of adolescent girls' parents is key to solving the problem. This study aimed to examine the influence of sociocultural-psychological predictors, including exposure to HPV-related stories (positive/negative), affective reactions (pride/regret), injunctive norms on the Internet and perceived moral obligation, on parents' HPV vaccination-related decision-making for girls aged 13-15 years in mainland China. A cross-sectional online survey using quota sampling was conducted in February 2022. Four hundred and five valid and qualified questionnaires were obtained. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was performed by SmartPLS 3 (i) to evaluate the reliability and validity of the measurement models of 11 constructs, and (ii) to test the effect relationships of the sociocultural-psychological predictors on parents' intention to vaccinate their daughters. The study findings showed that parental decision-making regarding HPV vaccination was influenced by sociocultural and psychological factors. At the level of individual psychological factors, exposure to positive stories was significantly associated with perceived vaccine effectiveness (β = 0.331, t = 8.448, p < 0.001), which strongly predicted the attitude toward vaccination (β = 0.521, t = 8.133, p < 0.001); anticipated pride had more positive influence on vaccination-related decision-making (β = 0.156, t = 2.176, p < 0.05) than anticipated regret. In terms of social influence, injunctive norms on the Internet had a significantly positive influence on vaccination intention (β = 0.127, t = 2.382, p < 0.05), similar to descriptive norms (β = 0.135, t = 3.358, p < 0.01). Perceived moral obligation at the cultural level was the strongest predictor of parental decision-making regarding HPV vaccination (β = 0.193, t = 2.139, p < 0.05). This study is the first in mainland China to systematically examine the sociocultural-psychological predictors of parents' decision-making to vaccinate their 13-15-year-old daughters against HPV. A new extended TPB model with a sociocultural-psychological approach was developed. This model can support the investigation of factors affecting HPV vaccine uptake rates in the mainland Chinese population and similar populations and help to understand the differences in vaccination-related decision-making between Eastern and Western cultures. Furthermore, the study provided some suggestions for HPV vaccination communication campaigns targeting adolescent girls' parents.