Menstrual knowledge and practices of female adolescents in Vhembe district, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Curationis
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Menstrual knowledge and practices of female adolescents in Vhembe district, Limpopo Province, South Africa | |
| Creator | Ramathuba, Dorah U. | |
| Description | Background: Although sexual issues are openly discussed in the media, sexuality and reproductive functions are treated as taboo. Menstruation is a normal physiologic process, but carries various meanings within cultures and is rarely discussed amongst families and communities.Purpose: This study sought to assess the knowledge and practices of secondary school girls towards menstruation in the Thulamela municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa.Methods: A quantitative descriptive study design was used and respondents were selected by means of convenience sampling from a population of secondary school girls. The sample consisted of 273 secondary school girls doing Grades 10–12. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, which was analysed by computing frequencies and percentages using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 12).Findings: The findings revealed that respondents experienced menarche at 13 years and that menstruation is a monthly bleeding (80%) that happens to every female; it is a sign of adulthood (91%). 15% reported that it is the removal of dirt from the stomach and abdomen, 67% indicated the source of menstruation being the uterus, 65% the vagina and 13% from the abdomen. 73% reported having fear and anxiety at the first experience of bleeding and that they could not maintain adequate hygienic practices due to a lack of privacy and sanitarytowels.Conclusion: Interventions are needed to increase girls’ opportunities to discuss menstruation and access information from adults including mothers, parents and guardians. School-based sexuality education should be comprehensive, begin early and be regularly repeated. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2015-11-26 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/curationis.v38i1.1551 | |
| Source | Curationis; Vol 38, No 1 (2015); 6 pages 2223-6279 0379-8577 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/1551/1910
https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/1551/1912
https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/1551/1911
https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/1551/1814
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT
