Exploring experience of mothers on preparing pre-puberty girls to menstruation in Karatu District

Abstract

Background: Menstruation is a situation whereby blood and tissue from girls or women uterus come through the vagina. It usually happens every month. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) many girls enter into puberty with low knowledge and misconceptions about menstruation, hence many girls are unprepared to cope with it and unsure of when and where to seek menstruation information. This is because the adults around them, especially mothers, are themselves not well informed and are uncomfortable discussing sexual related issues including menstruation which frequently comes with dirty, polluting and shameful connotations. Less information is documented on experience sharing of mothers to their pre puberty girls. This study attempts to fill that gap Study objective: To explore experiences of mothers on preparing pre-puberty girls to menstruation in Karatu District. Methods: This is a qualitative research with descriptive study design. In depth interview technique was employed in data collection whereby study participants were mothers who are living with pre Puberty girls in Karatu district area. Thematic analysis was used in data analysis. Results: Most of the mothers were not sufficiently prepared for menstruation hence lack good experiences on menstruation. Moreover, sharing of menstruation information is currently received positively by the children as they are taught in schools starting from primary schools. Also, low knowledge of mothers on menstruation issues and shame are the major a barriers in information sharing. Conclusion: The mothers‟ past practices is that they were not well prepared for menstruation. However mothers seems to share menstruation information with their pre puberty girls with different barriers such as limited information on menstruation, busy with daily activities, feeling shame to talk with their pre puberty girls and men‟s negative attitude on menstruation issues. Recommendation: The Ministry of Health Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children in collaboration with other stakeholders should design and develop special programs for increasing education and information to mothers on menstruation. This will increase mothers‟ ability of sharing menstruation information and setting time for talking with their pre puberty girls.