Transforming Menstrual Hygiene Awareness and Practices Among Adolescent Girls in Bisha, KSA: Bridging Knowledge and Cultural Barriers

International Journal of Nursing and Health Science

© 2025 by SSRG - IJNHS Journal

Volume 11 Issue 3

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Sudha Raddi, Shimmaa Mansour Moustafa Mohamed, Sivapriya S

10.14445/24547484/IJNHS-V11I3P101

How to Cite?

Sudha Raddi, Shimmaa Mansour Moustafa Mohamed, Sivapriya S, "Transforming Menstrual Hygiene Awareness and Practices Among Adolescent Girls in Bisha, KSA: Bridging Knowledge and Cultural Barriers," SSRG International Journal of Nursing and Health Science, vol. 11,  no. 3, pp. 1-5, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/24547484/IJNHS-V11I3P101

Abstract:

Adolescent girls face physiological, social and psychological health dilemma in present era of health care advancement of robotic surgeries in concern with Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). Especially in culturally conservative settings such as Bisha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA),adolescents have limited access to evidence based menstrual education and they are overwhelmed with misinformation and stigma. The present study focused on the effectiveness of a Structured Health Education Program (SHEP) in improving menstrual knowledge, hygiene practices, and sociocultural perceptions among adolescent girls. Mixed Method design with one group pre and post test for quantitative assessment of 60 adolescent girls and phenomenological design for collection of qualitative data from six participants. Quantitative data analysed using paired t test and qualitative data using thematic analysis. The findings are significant to generate evidence to support the effectiveness of SHEP as the mean knowledge score increased from 48.45% (SD=9.09) in the pre-test to 66.67% (SD=7.55) in the post-test, at t = -12.41, p < 0.001. the mean score rising from 31.10% (SD=11.95) to 83.87% (SD=10.36) (t = -25.80, p < 0.001 for hygiene practices. In the aspect of sociocultural beliefs decreased significantly, with the mean score dropping from 69.73% (SD=15.67) to 25.45% (SD=9.14) (t = 20.16, p < 0.001). Thematic analysis added significance to these results, revealing increased confidence, reduced stigma, and enhanced peer communication. Hence this research findings recommend the importance of menstrual hygiene education in schools and parental involvement in improving adolescent girls' menstrual health in all the aspects of health defined by World Health Organization.

Keywords:

Adolescent health, Menstrual hygiene menstruation practices, Sociocultural beliefs, Structured health education program.

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