Menstrual Experiences of Adolescent Girls: A Qualitative Study

This study attempted to explicate the psychological and socio-cultural realities coexisting with menstruation and its impacts on the performance, well-being and functioning of the adolescent girls of rural and urban areas. This study collected insight from experiences of adolescent girls in psychological and physical conditions and challenges which come out from social restriction, taboos, beliefs and practices related to menstruation. Fifty adolescent girls age ranging from 12 years to 19 years participated in this study. The qualitative research design was employed to find out basic themes regarding menstruation. Focused group discussion was used to collect data which was audio recorded followed by preparation of verbatim inscriptions. The findings of the study evinced that the adolescent girls reported many important facts affecting their well-being, identity and life outcomes. Five major themes emerged out of the data regarding the menstruation of adolescent girls. The first theme denoted that first menstruation follows bizarre experiences. The theme represented that the first menstrual experiences follow many bizarre and unusual reactions on the part of adolescent girls. The second theme was that menstruation is accompanied by many restrictions. Majority of the girl participants replied in their verbalizations that they have to face many restrictions in their social and religious lives. The third theme denoted that menstruation impacts well-being negatively. The fourth theme was that social awareness about menstruation may lessen the negative outcomes. The fifth theme denoted that a multitude of myths are associated with menstruation. Thus, the findings revealed that the adolescent girls exhibited little knowledge about menstruation before their menarche and internal physical process of menstruation as well as faced adverse psycho-social and physical problems. The negative feelings like panic experiences, inhibitions in social or day to day life, prohibition to take part in religious activities and cooking food were also reported. The findings of the study may help to develop coping strategies and benefit the prevention or psycho-social support programmes to assist adolescent girls holistically. The findings have important implications for health professionals and policy makers.