A Qualitative Study: Menstrual Attitude of Mothers with Pre-menarche Daughters

Background:
Studies have indicated that mothers are essential primary informants for adolescent girls regarding menstruation. Their knowledge and comfort levels regarding this subject considerably influence the information that their daughters receive. In addition to influencing the daughters’ initial experiences of menarche, maternal attitudes towards menstruation also affects their broader perceptions of menstruation throughout adolescence. This study aims to investigate mothers’ attitudes regarding menstruation, focusing on mother-daughter conversations and their influence on girls’ menstrual health education and experiences.
Method:
A phenomenological research design using the focus group discussion technique was employed to procure data. Fifty-three participants were recruited using organisational and advertisement techniques of purposive sampling. Six focus group discussions were conducted with participants’ spoken language. The audio recording was translated and transcribed verbatim into the English language. Using Atlas.ti software, a qualitative research analyst performed thematic analysis on verbatim transcripts from discussions in six focus groups.
Outcome:
The results of the study have unveiled thoughts and feelings of mothers anticipating their daughter’s onset of menstruation. It highlights that mothers’ perceptions are largely shaped by their personal feelings, especially surrounding issues of safety, protection, and the daughters’ ability to understand and manage their menstrual health. The findings offer a detailed insight into the mothers’ challenges, their support systems, and their psychological and emotional states as they navigate this significant transition for their daughter’s approaching puberty.
Recommendations:
A comprehensive instrument is necessary to assess attitudes around menstruation, enabling the identification of ways to provide mothers, women, and girls with vital information and assistance, thereby fostering positive body acceptance.