Menarche, Menstruation related Problems and Practices among Adolescent High School Girls in Addis Ababa, 2003/04
Creators: name: Abera, Yared
Publisher: name: National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia
Year: 2004

description: This is a school-based cross-sectional study conducted among female adolescents who were enrolled for 2003/04 academic year in Addis Ababa Secondary Schools. It was done as part of the curriculum for partial fulfillment of master degree in public health. Pathfinder International and Packard Foundation sponsored it. The study was conducted on randomly selected 863 students. The study looked at research questions such as age at menarche and its correlates; role of parents, schools and friends in the process of maturation; how they are prepared and dealt with menarche, and the current practices; and menstrual hygiene and suitability of school environment during menstruation with its effect on learning process. To reach at the desired objectives, different instruments were used. These were Pre-tested self administered questionnaire; Key informant interview, checklist for observation and focus group discussion. The study revealed that the mean age at menarche was (13.72±1.31) years. The dominant sources of information and advice on menstruation and how to deal with were teachers, mothers, elder sisters and friends. Fathers and brothers were the least consulted. Almost all girls hadn't expected their menstruation when it happened for the first time. Seventy seven percent of them believed that menstruation was not a female matter which should be kept for oneself, not to talk of it openly to others; 54% of them hadn't told any body. Girls preferred to get information on menstrual matters from female teachers, mothers, female health personnel friends and elder sisters in their descending order. The most felt needs during early days of menarche were menstrual soak ups and information. Sixty one percent of the girls used rag made soak ups during menarche while the current practice showed that only 52% of them used rag made. Seventy four percent of girls reported to have health problems related to menstruation where abdominal/backache and mood change were the most reported. Absenteeism due to menstruation related health problems was 51%, majority of them for one day when the occurrence of menstruation coincided with week days. vii In Addis Ababa adolescent girls reach at menarche while they are still in elementary schools, before they get sufficient information and counseling on menstruation or how to deal with it. Though most of the girls apparently had classes or obtained information on menstruation related facts that focused more on biologic and hygienic aspect, basically they didn't address the psychosocial factors. This directly or indirectly may contribute to absenteeism. Besides this, the poor school facilities that couldn't respond well to the needs of menstruating girls and lack of concern for its management at school are the areas that need attention. Hence, schools should provide the minimum acceptable, desirable and affordable standardized menstrual hygiene for girls. Health education or any education related to ARH, maturation process, should focus and complete the parent-student-teacher circle. Intervention programs focusing on school health should work in line with improving this situation as well as take this advantage as a good entry point to addressing other ARH problems including HIV/AIDS. Key words: Age at menarche, Menstrual Hygiene, Absenteeism due menstruation related health problems and Sexuality