Perception of teenage girls towards menstrual cycle and its stigma
A qualitative study
Keywords:
menstrual pain, menstruation, body images, psychological stigma, absenteeismAbstract
Background: Globally, teenage girls undergo challenges with their menstrual cycle, including managing hygiene, fatigue, physical and psychological stigma, and absenteeism from school. Methodology: Teenage girls were included in this qualitative study, with five focus groups (three sessions each) with a researcher note. A thematic approach was adopted, and the criteria of reports on the qualitative study have been adhered to: Two major concepts of themes evolved from the collected data. 1. Dysmenorrhea and 2. Physical and psychological changes. Focus groups used a diary to document the conversations. Results: The girls reported that menstrual pain limits their everyday activities and causes less confidence. They are also more likely to feel mentally low, and it hurts their outfits. Conclusions: The research explores the significance of the data from a qualitative study in uncrating teenage girls’ perception of menstrual pain and changes in their body images.
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