Exploring school girls' menstruation characteristics and impacts on their academic performance
Keywords:
menstrual pain, menstrual hygiene, dysmenorrhea, anxietyAbstract
Background/Objective: Menstrual issues are the most prevalent gynecological issue, especially among high school girls. Menstruation significantly impacts students' academic performance and is one of the leading causes of their short-term absences from school. This project is intended to investigate the effect of menstruation on academic achievement among rural girls in a developing nation. Subjects and Methods: This study utilized a mixed methodology consisting of a descriptive cross-sectional study and a qualitative design. The study was done on 225 girls during their four menstrual cycles between February and April 2022. For data collection, a three-sectioned, pre-validated questionnaire was used, which was divided into three portions. Section A was an interview evaluation sheet used to collect socio-demographic information. Section B addressed the menstrual cycle and menstrual pain. Included questions on the impact of the menstrual period on academic performance and students' anxiety surrounding each menstrual period. This study revealed a significant association between dysmenorrhea and anxiety. Results: Seventy-five percent of girls in the rural community expressed concern about their menstrual cycles. Data were collected by diary records and focus group interviews. Dysmenorrhea severity was classified as mild, moderate, and severe.
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