Psychosocial Problems of Adolescent Girls during Menstruation.

Aim: To study the psychosocial problems of adolescent girls during menstruation.

Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Chennai. Descriptive research design was used. Sample size: Sixty students were selected randomly by the teacher from Bhoodhur Govt high school, Sholavaram, Chennai and referred to researcher for the study purpose. Inclusion criteria: Adolescent girls who were aged 13-16 years and attained menarche.

Results: Majority (71.7%) of adolescent girls belong to the age group of 14 - 15 years, 68% were in ninth standard. Nearly half of the respondents were using pads (45%) and clothes (42%) as absorbent, majority (65%) preferred to discuss about their menstrual problems with mother, 28% with friends about menarche, 7% do not discuss with anyone. Most of them (58%) as faced physical problems during menstruation such as pre-menstrual syndrome (55%), menorrhagia (12%), sleep disturbance (12%), body pain (68%), head ache (45%), leg pain (55%).Majority (67%) had psychological problems such as change in the mood (70%) irritability, (78%) restlessness, (63%) unstable mood, (58%) feeling stressed). One-third had faced psychosocial problems in terms of unaware of menarche before the onset (65%), 10% do not have privacy to change sanitary pad and do not know how to use pad, 32% faced restrictions during menarche.

Conclusion: Mental health education of adolescent girls is essential to deal with psychosocial problems related to menstruation.