An Assessment of Menstrual and Genital Hygiene Behaviours among Adolescent Females at Gazimağusa, Northern Cyprus

Year 2022, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 185 - 191, 30.03.2022

Rojjin Mamuk , Hasret Parlan , Eren Asif , Mürüvvet Deveci , Ebru Akdeniz

https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.909836

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Objective: Inadequate menstrual and genital hygiene behaviours are common and important problems for adolescent health. This study aims to determine menstrual and genital hygiene behaviours and the affecting factors among female students enrolled in high schools located in Gazimağusa, Northern Cyprus.
Methods: This school-based, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted in three high schools in the Gazimağusa town borders in Northern Cyprus with 379 students. Data were collected through the Socio-demographic Form and the Genital Hygiene Behaviours Scale.
Results: The scale mean score was found 79,28±6,80 (min:47 / max: 112). The factors affecting menstrual and genital hygiene behaviours were found to be the type of schools the students were enrolled (X2: 14,771 / P: 0,001), the education level of the mothers (X2: 9,806 / P: 0,020), and the education level of the fathers (X2: 15,879 / P:0,001).
Conclusions: The participants of this study had an above-average level of right genital hygiene behaviours. Genital hygiene behaviours were found to be affected by the type of school, the education level of the mothers, and the education level of the fathers.

Keywords

Adolescents, behavior, female, hygiene, menstruation

Supporting Institution

None

Project Number

None

References

• [1] UNESCO. Puberty education & menstrual hygine management. Available from: https://www.susana.org/_resources/ documents/default/3-2213-21-142.650.2020.pdf.
• [2] Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health. Reproductıve health servıces for youth – Course participant handbook. Available from: https:// sbu.saglik.gov.tr/Ekutuphane/kitaplar/a%C3%A7sap41.pdf.
• [3] Farage MA, Miller KW, Davis A. Cultural aspects of menstruation and menstrual hygiene in adolescents. Expert Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2011; 6(2): 127–139.
• [4] WHO. The changing world of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights Available from: https://www. who.int/news-room/detail/03-02-2020-the-changing-worldof- adolescent-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights.
• [5] WHO. Adolescents: health risks and solutions Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ adolescents-health-risks-and-solutions. Internet.
• [6] FSG Reimagining Social Change. An opportunity to address menstrual health and gender equity Available from: https:// www.fsg.org/publications/opportunity-address-menstrualhealth- and-gender-equity.
• [7] Karahan N. Development of a Genital Hygiene Behavior Scale: Validity and reliability study. Istanbul Med J. 2017; 18(3): 157-162.
• [8] Yağmur Y. The genital hygiene behaviors of the females aged 15-49 living at the Firat Health Clinic neighborhood in Malatya. TAF Preventive Medicine Bull 2007; 6(5): 325-330.
• [9] Yılmaz Y, Karaman S. The knowledge about the adolescent girls’ genitals and hygiene who live in Sanliurfa, applications and factors that affect. Journal of Human Sciences. 2019; 16(3): 823-832.
• [10] Rastogi S, Khanna A, Mathur P. Educational interventions to improve menstrual health: approaches and challenges. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2019; 33(5): 20190024
• [11] Bilgiç D, Yüksel P, Gülhan H, Şirin F, Uygun H. Genital hygiene behaviors and resulting health status of female students staying ın a university dormitory. ACU Sağlık Bil Derg. 2019; 10(3): 1-8.
• [12] Demirağ H, Hintistan S, Cin A, Tuncay B. Investigation of genital hygiene behaviors of health services vocational school students. Bozok Med J. 2019; 9(1): 42-50.
• [13] Shah SK, Shrestha S, Maharjan PL, Karki K, Upadhayay A, Subedi S, Gurung M. Knowledge and practice of genital health and hygiene among adolescent girls of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Nepal. Am J Public Health Res. 2019;7(4): 151-156.
• [14] Yadev RN, Joshi S, Poudel R, Pandeya P. Knowledge, attitude, and practice on menstrual hygiene management among school adolescents. J Nepal Health Res Counc 2017; 15(37): 212-216.
• [15] Cangöl E, Tokuç B. The evaluation of genital ınfections and genital hygiene practices of women who applied to gynecology policlinic. Florence Nightingale J Nurs 2013;21: 85-91.
• [16] Ilo CI, Nwimo IO, Onwunaka C. Menstrual hygiene practices and sources of menstrual hygiene ınformation among adolescent secondary school girls in Abakaliki Education Zone of Ebonyi State. Journal of Education and Practice. 2016; 7(31): 88-95.
• [17] PATH. Girls’ and women’s right to menstrual health: Evidence and opportunities Available from: https://path.azureedge. net/media/documents/RH_outlook_mh_022016.pdf.
• [18] Solanki H, Gosalia V, Patel H, Vora F, Singh MP. A study of menstrual problems and practices among girls of Mahila College. Natl J Integr Res Med. 2012; 3(4): 24–27.
• [19] Ünal KS. Determination of knowledge levels of genital hygiene behaviors of nursing students. Journal of Current Researches on Health Sector 2017; 7(1): 23-36.
• [20] Balqis M, Arya IFD, Ritonga MNA. Knowledge, attitude and practice of menstrual hygiene among high schools students in Jatinangor. Althea Medical Journal 2016; 3(2): 230-238.
• [21] Bano R, Al Sabhan FA. Study of knowledge and practice of university females regarding reproductive health and hygiene in Hail, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Women’s Health and Reproduction Sciences. 2015; 3(1): 31-39.
• [22] Belayneh Z, Mekuriaw B. Knowledge and menstrual hygiene practice among adolescent school girls in southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2019; 19(1): 2-8.
• [23] Janoowalla H, Keppler H, Asanti D, Xie X, Negassa A, Benfield N, Rulisa S, Nathan LM. The impact of menstrual hygiene management on adolescent health: The effect of Go! pads on rate of urinary tract infection in adolescent females in Kibogora, Rwanda. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2020; 148(1): 87-95.
• [24] Parajuli P, Paudel N, Shrestha S. Knowledge and practices regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls of rural Nepal. Journal of Kathmandu Medical College 2016; 5(1): 23-27.
• [25] Suhasini K. Chandra M. Factors influencing menstrual hygiene practice among late adolescent girls in an urban area of Belgaum. Annals of Community Health 2016; 4(4): 20-24.
• [26] Bobhate PS, Shrivastava SR. Cross sectional study of knowledge and practices about reproductive health among female adolescents in an Urban Slum of Mumbai. J Family Reprod Health 2011; 5(4): 117-124.
• [27] Nair AR, Pal DK, Dandotiya D, Verma S, Sawlani H, Kushwah S. A study to assess the knowledge regarding practices of menstrual hygiene and reproductive tract infections among school going adolescent girls. Int J Community Med Public Health 2019; 8(3): 188-193.
• [28] Upashe SP, Tekelap T, Mekonnen J. Assessment of knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene among high school girls in Western Ethiopia. BMC Women’s Health, 2015; 15(1);1-8.
• [29] Mitra A, Mahajan RG, Rangoonwala M, Kadri AM, Amin C, Gajera K. Awareness and practices on menstrual hygiene amongst adolescent girls in Rajkot District of Gujarat. Healthline Journal 2015; 6(2): 61-67.
• [30] van Eijk AM, Sivakami M, Thakkar MB, Bauman A, Laserson KF, Coates S, Phillips-Howard PA. Menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in India: a systematic review and metaanalysis. BMJ Open 2016; 6(3):e010290.
• [31] Göger B, Tuncay B. Investigation of personal and genital hygiene behaviors of female students who stayed in boarding during the adolesan period. Journal of Samsun Health Sciences 2021; 6(2):255-269.
• [32] Kartal YA, Engin B, Teke B. Genital hygiene behaviors of midwifery students. Int J Caring Sci 2020; 13(3):2029-2036.
• [33] Tiryaki S, Gezginci E, Göktaş S. Determination of genital hygiene behaviors of faculty of health sciences students. Journal of Inonu University Health Services Vocational School. 2021; 9(2): 510-522.
• [34] Habtegiorgis Y, Sisay T, Kloos M, Malede K, Yalew M, Arefaynie M, Damtie Y, Kefale B, Tegegne TB, Addisu E, Lingerew M, Berhanu L, Berihun G, Natnael T, Abebe M, Feleke A, Gizeyatu A, Ademas A, Fentaw Z, Yayeh TM, Dangura F, Adane M. Menstrual hygiene practices among high school girls in urban areas in Northeastern Ethiopia: A neglected issue in water, sanitation, and hygiene research. PLOS ONE 16(6):e0248825
• [35] Shallo SA, Willi W, Abubekir A. factors affecting menstrual hygiene management practice among school adolescents in Ambo, Western Ethiopia, 2018: A cross-sectional mixedmethod study. Dovepress 2020;13: 1579–1587.
• [36] Hubaedah A. Relationship between knowledge and behavior of vulva hygiene when menstruate with the event of pruritus vulvae in adolescents. Jurnal Kesehatan 2020; 10(1):1-9.
• [37] Toprakçı E, Meşe ÖF. Relationship between education and health of induvaduals in Turkey: An analysis in the light of national data. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty 2019; 51: 118-143.
• [38] Santina T, Wehbe N, Ziade FM, Nehme M. assessment of beliefs and practices relating to menstrual hygiene of adolescent girls in Lebano. IJHSR 2013; 3(12): 75-88.
• [39] Nabwera HM, Shah V, Neville R, Sosseh F, Saidykhan M, Faal F, Sonko B, Keita O, Schmidt WP, Torondel B. Menstrual hygiene management practices and associated health outcomes among school-going ad olescents in rural Gambia. PLOS ONE 2021; 16(2):e0247554.
• [40] Özdemir S, Ortabağ T, Tosun B, Özdemir Ö, Bebiş H. Assessment of the knowledge level and behaviors of students in school of nursing about genital hygiene. Gülhane Medical Journal 2012; 54(2): 120-128.
• [41] Şimşek H, Çöplü F. The examination of the relationship between the levels of showing risky behaviors and the levels of attachment to school of high school students. AEÜSBED 2018;4(1): 18-30.
• [42] Davis J, Macintyre A, Odagiri M, Suriastini W, Cordova A, Huggett C, Agius PA, Faigoh, Budiyani AE, Quillet C, Cronin AA, Diah NM, Triwahyunto A, Luchters S, Kennedy E. Menstrual hygiene management and school absenteeism among adolescent students in Indonesia: evidence from a crosssectional school-based survey. Trop Med Int Health 2018; 23(12): 1350-1363.
• [43] Rani PS. Knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene among married adolescents and young women in Chittoor District of Andra Pradesh: India. IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science 2014; 3(2): 6-15.
• [44] Kuhlmann AS, Henry K, Wall LL. Menstrual hygiene management in resource – poor countries. Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey. 2017; 72(6):356-376.
• [45] Taskın L. Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing. Ankara: System Offset;2012. p. 20–22