Abstract:

Objectives: Menstruation is a normal physiological process that begins during adolescence and may be associated with various symptoms occurring before or during the menstrual flow. Normal menstruation depends on a highly coordinated interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary glands, ovaries and endometrium, with all events usually occurring in a cycle time frame often between 21 to 35 days. This study is therefore carried out to determine the influence of pre-menarcheal training on menstrual hygiene practices, the various menstrual disorders among the girls, as well as, the influence of educational status on menstrual hygiene practices, with a view to making necessary recommendations that would help improve such practices.

Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in Lagos Nigeria. The target population was adolescent girls in this city. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondent. All data were statistically analysed, using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and statistical test of significance was performed with Chi-Square test. Results: A total of 526 consenting respondents participated in the study with a mean age ± SD of 14.09 ± 2.21 years. Most of the respondents had their menarche (first menstruation) around 12 to 13 years of age, with the mean age ± SD being 12.51 ± 1.44 years. 184 (35.0%) experienced dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation) during their last menstrual period and menorrhagia by 34 (6.5%) of the respondent. Also, 142 (27.0%) of the respondents have had a cycle < 21 days or >35 days within their last three menstrual cycles.

Conclusion: Pre-menstrual training is common among these adolescent girls as it is evident in their menstrual hygiene practices. However, dysmenorrhoea and menorrhagia are common problems among adolescent girls thus health education & health promotion are the best ways to deal with menstrual hygiene & disorder issues effectively.

Keywords: Training, menstrual, hygiene, adolescent, Nigeria.

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