Information, Beliefs and Attitudes towards Menarche in a Sample of Adolescent Student Girls in Baghdad city

Dhia AlDeen, Lamia; Messer Nasser, Maissa

	Information, Beliefs and Attitudes towards Menarche in a Sample of Adolescent Student Girls in Baghdad city
IRAQI JOURNALOF COMMUNITY MEDICINE
Article 1, Volume 23, Issue 2, 2010, Pages 74-78
Authors
Lamia Dhia AlDeen; Maissa Messer Nasser
Abstract
Abstract: Back ground: Menarche is the first menstrual period in the females of human beings and it is a later event which occurs variably after the peak of total body growth spurt has passed, from both social and medical perspective it is often considered as a central event of human puberty, as it signals the possibility of fertility. Objectives: To find out the information, beliefs and attitudes towards menarche in a sample of adolescent student girls in Baghdad city. Subjects & Methods: A cross sectional was conducted in Baghdad during the period from the 20th of February to the 30th of April 2008. A convenient sample of 992 adolescent girls from the 7th to 12th educational grades were chosen from (intermediate and secondary schools) selected from Al- Karkh and Al- Russafa areas, in Baghdad. Collection of data was achieved by direct interview. Results: The study showed that (87%) of girls had attained menarche, of these (61.3%) had information about menarche. The mother was the main source of information and she was the first who informed about menarche. Conclusion: Two thirds of the menstruating girls had knowledge about menarche before they attain it. Shyness and unavailability of information were the major causes behind absence of knowledge. Key Words: Menarche, adolescent, information, beliefs& attitudes
Keywords
Menarche; Adolescent; information; Beliefs

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