Unveiling the cycle: menarche age and menstrual challenges among adolescent school girls
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36517/2175-6783.20262796292Palabras clave:
Menarche; Menstruation Disturbances; Adolescent; Dysmenorrhea.Resumen
Objective: to determine the average age of menarche and menstrual problems and to compare the discrepancies among the adolescent girls in urban and rural areas. Methods: cross-sectional study conducted in urban and rural schools. The population included schoolgirls aged between 9 and 15 years. Overall sample size was 520. Samples were selected by Systematic Random Sampling. Data was obtained through a validated, self-administered questionnaire organized into three distinct sections. The tool was provided with bilingual format (English and Tamil) to facilitate better understanding among respondents. Results: the mean age at menarche among rural sample was 12.28 ± 0.87 years, compared with 11.79 ± 1.16 years among their urban counterparts. Moderate menstrual problems were more common among rural girls (24.2%) than urban girls (10.8%), while severe problems were uncommon in both groups. Conclusion: this study shows that urban girls attain menarche earlier than rural girls, reflecting a shift toward earlier maturation in urban settings. Dysmenorrhea, back pain, abdominal pain, and body pain were the most commonly reported menstrual problems. Contribution to practice: educating adolescent girls about menstrual hygiene and monitoring the age of menarche and their health are the vital part on strengthening the menstrual practice and sustainable development.
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The data supporting the findings of this study cannot be made publicly available because the article from the PhD program. Data may be provided upon reasonable request and with institutional approval.
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Derechos de autor 2026 Fathima Kani Mohamed Rafi, Achamma Varghese
Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución 4.0.
