ABSTRACT
This study investigated into the knowledge of female students towards dysmenorrhea and the practice of menstrual hygiene in Nyberg Hall, Babacock University Ilishan Remo Ogun-State. The specific objective include; to find out the knowledge on the causes and effects of dysmenorrhea in Nyberg hall; to determine attitude towards menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall; To investigate the factors that influence the practice of menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall; To demonstrate the strategies for managing the effects of dysmenorrhea and improving menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall.
The study entails conceptual clarification which include: Onset of menstruation during puberty (Menarche); Normal patterns of menstruation; Defining menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea); Influence socio-economic factors on the practice of menstrual hygiene. The theoretical framework was anchored on Health Promotion Theory. The study also entail conceptual framework of Reasoned Action Theory.
The study employed the descriptive survey design. The study used the 240 female student from Nyberg Hall in Babacock University as the population of the study. In the population using the Taro Yamane the sample unit the questionnaire was distributed too resulted to the 150 female student in Nyberg Hall. Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the inferential statistics in the study
The hypothesis of the study revealed that strategies of dysmenorrhea has a positive significant relationship with menstrual hygiene at point .57% and positive at .000 level of significant of (P>0.005).The study recommended that health organization within the country should, organize seminars within all the stages of education from the nursery, primary and tertiary so has to inform and educate them on the needed knowledge on the strategies of dysmenorrhea and menstrual hygiene.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Menstruation is the normal and physiological process of the discharge of blood from the uterus which is unique to females that begins in adolescence (Begum, Hossain, and Nazneen, 2009). Adolescence is a significant period in the life of a female. Adolescent girls often lack knowledge regarding reproductive health including menstruation which can be due to socio-cultural barriers in which they grow up (Diaz, Laufer, and Breech, 2006).
The first menses is called “Menarche”. Menarche is the signal that sexual maturation of the young female has occurred and that the body is capable of supporting pregnancy. With onset of menstruation a girl becomes aware of her emerging identity as a female capable to reproduce. Her understanding and acceptance of her new identity will be greatly influenced by the feedback she receives from peers, educators and most importantly her parents (Ei-Gilanya, Badawi, and El- Fedawy, 2005). Menstruation occurs periodically throughout the child bearing years, except during pregnancy and lactation. The ages of onset of menstruation differ from person to person but seem to be affected by heredity, racial background and nutritional status (Bayray, 2012). Menstrual flow consists of blood, mucus, and tissue particles. Factors that may alter the menstrual cycle are stress, fatigue, exercises, acute (or) chronic illness, and changes in climate. Menstrual hygiene is the personal hygiene during menstruation. It includes bathing daily for comfort, using clean, dry absorbent material and disposal of used pads/material in clean environmentally acceptable, safe methods and to feel fresh, keep perianal area clean from anterior to posterior (Eswi, Helal, and Hand, 2012).
Menstruation, the periodic vaginal bleeding that occurs with the shedding of the uterine mucosa is one of the signs of puberty, and occurs one or two years following appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. Menstruation is generally considered unclean in Indian society. For most girls menarche is a negative, frightening experience, or, at the best, a nuisance, or is something to fear or to be ashamed of. Restrictions in daily activities such as not being allowed to take bath, change clothes, comb hair and enter holy places and dietary restrictions (taboo on consumption of food like rice, curd, milk, lassi, potato, onion, sugarcane etc.) during the menstrual period are also imposed.
Although adolescence is a healthy period of life, many are often less informed, less experienced, and less comfortable in accessing reproductive health information and services. This leads to culmination in repression of feelings which can cause intense mental stress and seek health advice from quacks and persons having inadequate knowledge (Bayray, 2012).
The menstrual period is a natural phenomenon that occurs throughout the reproductive years of every woman (Beek, et al., 2011). According Dagwood, (2011), most females experience some degree of pain and discomfort in their menstruation period (dysmenorrhea), which could have important impacts on their daily activities, and disturb their productivity at home or at their work place. In these instances, they should consult a doctor to relieve their pain and other relevant symptoms of dysmenorrhea (Drank and Uenkafa, 2013). By this definition, dysmenorrhea is a painful period or menstruation cramps, which may be accompanied by some other symptoms and complications such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness, and/or fainting and is reported as the most common reason for females to visit a doctor in gynecology centers. There are probably few women who can truthfully claim they have never had dysmenorrhea, and a majority of them are thought to experience some degree of menstruation cramping (Klein, 2008).
According to Monga (2006), dysmenorrhea can be defined as painful menstruation, and is a common complaint, affecting 45–95% of women of reproductive age. The incidence increases from early to late adolescence, and becomes more prevalent in middle and late adolescence when ovulation cycles are well established (Liliwati et al., 2007). Dysmenorrhea might be a symptom of endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, Asherman’s syndrome (rare), and cervical stenosis, and could eventually cause infertility (Monga, 2006). As dysmenorrhea is a common problem for a majority of adolescent girls, it is essential that these girls are aware of the normal and abnormal symptoms of menstruation. It is equally important to persuade adolescent females to seek medical advice for their problems, as dysmenorrhea could lead to reproductive system complications. Therefore, this study focuses on Knowledge of female students towards dysmenorrhea and the practice of menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall, Babcock University Ilishan Remo Ogun state.
1.2 Statement of the problem
About 50% of women experience dysmenorrhea throughout their reproductive years and studies has revealed the high prevalence of dysmenorrhea (Beek et al., 2011). The problem of dysmenorrhea among women not only causes fear in approximately one-fifth of the female population, but also causes many social, physical, psychological, and economic problems for women around the world.
During menstruation period, shedding of the blood leaves the genital tract moist and lowered acidity of the vagina making it vulnerable for infections by bacteria and other organisms in reproductive tract. This in turn may lead to discomfort, pain, foul smelling discharge and sense of embarrassment among them (Jaiswal, and Balki, 2015). This pose a problem as the attitude of many female towards menstrual hygiene determines their state of health.
Another problem are the factors that affects female’s hygiene. Factors such as socioeconomic status that influenced person’s ability to regularly maintain hygiene, health beliefs and motivation about importance of hygiene, and cultural behavior which depends on person’s cultural belief and personal values hygiene care, all determine female’s hygiene (Clement, 2011). Having knowledge regarding to menstruation and menstrual hygiene does not guarantee that females have good attitude and practice toward menstrual hygiene because they need to motivate themselves to maintain self-care. This itself pose a serious problem to their health.
Unhygienic practices during menstruation poses another problem as it exposes females to higher chances of contacting infection or gynecological problems (Shanbhag et al., 2012).
Many young girls lack appropriate and sufficient information regarding menstrual hygiene. This may result in incorrect and unhealthy behavior during their menstrual period. Poor personal hygiene and unsafe sanitary conditions result in the girls facing many gynecological problems. These problems make it glaring that there is a need to carry out a study on the Knowledge of female students towards dysmenorrhea and the practice of menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall.
1.3 Significance of the study
This study is relevant to adolescents, parents, guidance and researchers.
1. Majority of adolescent girls usually have lack of scientific knowledge and hygienic practice during menstruation and puberty, also Adolescent girls often are reluctant to discuss this embracing topic with their care-providers and often hesitate to seek help regarding the menstrual problem from external sources. So, girls should be educated about “menstruation and healthy menstrual.
2. To parents and guidance, this study will inform them on the need to educate their children on the importance of menstrual hygiene practices and also help their female children who are experiencing dysmenorrhea on how to get adequate medical treatment.
3. To researchers, the findings from this study will enhance the existing body of literature by contemplating the areas of the literature that have not yet been examined or considered and incorporating these factors into the current study. The study will thus form the basis for further studies in the field.
1.4 Objectives of the study
The general objective of this study is to examine the Knowledge of female students towards dysmenorrhea and the practice of menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall, Babcock University Ilishan Remo Ogun state. The specific objectives are:
1. To find out the knowledge on the causes and effects of dysmenorrhea in Nyberg hall.
2. To determine attitude towards menstrual hygienein Nyberg hall.
3. To investigate the factors that influence the practice of menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall.
4. To demonstrate the strategies for managing the effects of dysmenorrhea and improving menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall.
1.5 Research questions
The relevant research questions related to this study include the following:
1. What is the knowledge on the causes and effects of dysmenorrhea in Nyberg hall?
2. What is the attitude towards menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall?
3. What are the factors that influence the practice of menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall?
4. What are the strategies for managing the effects of dysmenorrhea and improving menstrual hygiene among female students in Nyberg hall?
1.6 Research hypothesis
H1: There is no relationship between strategies for managing the effects of dysmenorrhea and improving menstrual hygiene among female students in Nyberg hall.
H2: There is no relationship between the factors that influence the practice of menstrual hygiene among female students in Nyberg hall.
1.7 Scope of the study
The scope of this study is restricted to the Knowledge of female students towards dysmenorrhea and the practice of menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall, Babcock University Ilishan Remo Ogun state. A questionnaire will be for the purpose of this study and the sample population are female students in Nyberg hall, Babcock University Ilishan Remo Ogun state. The researchers restrict this study to 150 female students in Nyberg hall, Babcock University Ilishan Remo Ogun state.
1.8 Limitation of the study
In view of carrying out a study on the Knowledge of female students towards dysmenorrhea and the practice of menstrual hygiene in Nyberg hall, Babcock University Ilishan Remo Ogun state, some of the major constraints the researchers encountered in putting up this research include:
1. lack of time
2. lack of willingness to give information by respondent.
3. limited resources.
1.9 Definition of terms
Dysmenorrhea: is defined as painful menstruation, typically involving abdominal cramps.
Menstrual period: is the blood flow from a woman’s uterus that happens every month.
Menstrualhygiene: is vital to the health, well-being, dignity, empowerment, mobility and productivity of women and girls.
Menstruation: Normal vaginal bleeding or discharge of blood mucosal tissue from the uterus and vagina that occurs as part of a woman’s monthly cycle.
Adolescent: Transitional stage of physical and psychological human development from puberty to adulthood.