Blood, joy and tears: menarche narratives of undergraduate females in a selected in Nigeria Private University
Abstract
The aim of the study is to add to the body of knowledge on less researched aspects of female adolescent health in Nigeria. It specifically explored the menarche or first period narratives of 136 young women, focusing on the contents of the discussion that ensued with whom they told when they first got their period using qualitative methodology. It also explores sources of premenstrual information and how the menstrual period is managed. The sample consisted of 136 undergraduate females in Redeemer's University, Ede, Nigeria. Almost all of the respondents (95%) received information about menstruation from mothers, female relatives and school lessons prior to menarche. The majority of the respondents first told either their mother or a female relative when they first got their period and viewed menarche as a crisis. Two salient themes emerged from the contents of the narratives; celebration and advice. The advice theme was further explored and three advice patterns were identified: being a woman, hygiene and changed dynamics in relationships with males. Data from the present study suggests that only certain aspects of the menstruation discourse have evolved. All respondents reported using sanitary towels during their menstrual period with the majority experiencing cramps regularly and (61%) using pharmalogical agents for remedy. It is envisaged that findings from the study will be useful in future health intervention programmes and research on female adolescent health in Nigeria and elsewhere.
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This information was often provided without clarifying how or when girls were vulnerable to pregnancy.
“however, this information was often provided without clarifying how or when girls were vulnerable to pregnancy”
From Women’s and girls’ experiences of menstruation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [32]
In some studies, authors noted that participants, typically a small minority, expressed a positive sentiment regarding their menstruation as affirmation of their womanhood and fertility.
“In some studies, authors noted that participants, typically a small minority, expressed a positive sentiment regarding their menstruation as affirmation of their womanhood and fertility [5, 8, 32, 43, 47, 51, 52, 55, 60, 71, 78, 85, 109].”
From Women’s and girls’ experiences of menstruation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [32]
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- Authors
- Adegbayi, A.
- Affiliations
- Redeemer's University (NG)
- Corresponding author
- Adegbayi, Adenike
- Venue
- International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health
- Publisher
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH
- Published
- 2017-08-01
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 4
- ISSN
- 0334-0139 (ISSN-L)
- 2191-0278
- OpenAlex
- W2741828557
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 0.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Menstrual Health and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Keywords
- menarche, menstruation, menstrual hygiene, sanitary towels, menstrual cramps, menstrual pain management, female university students, Nigeria
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