Menstrual Health Education for Visually Impaired Adolescent

This study was planned as a two-group randomized controlled interventional study to determine the effect of face-to-face and web-based menstrual health education given to visually impaired adolescent girls on menstrual attitude, menstrual symptoms and anxiety.

Menstruation is a physiological and natural process of the reproductive system. It is reported that more than 300 million individuals menstruate every day worldwide. On average, a woman menstruates for approximately 3,000 days, or 8 years, between the ages of 11 and 49. Therefore, menstruation is an important issue that requires physical, spiritual and social adaptation for women. It is known that the majority of menstruating individuals have serious problems in managing their monthly menstrual cycles healthily and effectively. However, the menstrual needs of girls and women with different types of disabilities vary compared to individuals without disabilities.

Since the sense of sight has an important place in performing daily activities, visually impaired girls and women are one of the disabled groups that experience various difficulties during the menstrual process. In the literature, it is seen that visually impaired individuals have negative myths and beliefs about the menstrual period, have difficulties with self-care, do not comply with hygiene rules during the menstrual period, and talk about menstrual hygiene management with their mothers, sisters, friends, etc. It is emphasized that there are deficiencies in their knowledge and practices regarding menstrual hygiene, that they see the menstrual period as a shame, and that they experience difficulties such as social isolation and forced sterilization. In this context, the menstrual period emerges as an important global public health problem for visually impaired girls and women.

Menstrual health/hygiene management is important in order to cope with the problems experienced during menstruation. United Nations International Children\&#39;s Emergency Fund underlines that menstrual health and hygiene management should be addressed within a broader framework, reconciling health, well-being, gender equality, education, social equality, individual empowerment policies and human rights. The only point that distinguishes visually impaired women from sighted women regarding menstruation is menstrual hygiene management. Menstrual management in visually impaired women; It varies depending on the use of materials such as pads and tampons, hygiene training, degree of social support, disability status of the person and symptoms related to menstruation. Different methods and tools can be used in training for visually impaired individuals. When providing education to visually impaired individuals, changes should be made in the tools used rather than the content of the education. Because lack of vision does not constitute an obstacle to their education. Training can be provided using models, printed brochures containing the Braille alphabet, voice recordings and assistive technologies.

The comprehensive menstrual hygiene management training to be prepared will guide health professionals, special education teachers and institutions. Studies have reported that nurses have difficulty and experience communication problems while providing care to disabled individuals. It is believed that it will guide nurses regarding the educational methods and needs of visually impaired individuals. In addition, it is a study that can support healthcare personnel who may be inadequate in consultancy and training roles due to the insufficient number of healthcare personnel in our country and their high workload. In particular, the widespread use of web-based training in the education of disabled individuals can be an opportunity for many disabled individuals who have economic, transportation and material problems, regardless of time and place.

Hypotheses of the research:

Ho: Between groups; Ho1: There is no difference between menstrual attitude scale scores in web-based and face-to-face menstrual health education.

Ho2: There is no difference between menstrual symptom scale scores in web-based and face-to-face menstrual health education.

Ho3: There is no difference between anxiety scores in web-based and face-to-face menstrual health education.

H1: Between groups:

H11: There is a difference between menstrual attitude scale scores in web-based and face-to-face menstrual health education.

H12: There is a difference between menstrual symptom scale scores in web-based and face-to-face menstrual health education.

H13: There is a difference between anxiety scores in web-based and face-to-face menstrual health education.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* For face-to-face education:

  * Be between the ages of 11-19
  * Ability to read and write
  * Menstruation
  * Having at least 60% vision loss (those with congenital or acquired vision loss)

For web-based training:

* Be between the ages of 11-19
* Ability to read and write
* Menstruation
* Having at least 60% vision loss (those with congenital or acquired vision loss)
* Having a computer or mobile phone compatible with a screen reader program and internet access.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not attending face-to-face or web-based training for at least 1 week.