@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2383-2150    Journal of Education and Community Health 2015;1(4):1-10

Background
… [1].Group discussion as a reason of providing a swift method in addressee's learning has been turned to a popular method [2].… [3-5].The first menstruation is the most important sign of puberty in girls [6] and the problems related to menstrual period are one of the reasons of sickness in women that more than one third of them experience abnormal problems of the menstruation [7].
Previous Studies
… [8-9]. having correct information about menstruation in the first menstruate period causes positive vision of it in individual [10]… [11-33].
Aim(s)
This study aimed to specify the effect of training through group discussion on health behaviors in menstrual period of adolescent girls.
Research type
This study is a quasi-experimental intervention survey (one group).
Research society, place and time
This study performed in 2012. Research society was the girls who were living in boarding centers of welfare organization in Tehran.
Sampling method and number
All the qualified individuals who were living in these centers (6 centers in Tehran, 2 centers in Rey city, and 1 center in the city of Shemiranat) including 61 persons participated in this study. The entrance qualifications in the study included the age range between 12-19, not having mental or physical disability, passing at least three menstrual cycles and consent to participate in the study. As the result of the limitation in the number of qualified individuals, there was no possibility of choosing a control group and the study was done with just one group (before-after).
Used devices&materials
The used instrument in collecting the data included a two-section researcher-made questionnaire. In the first section, the demographic properties including age, educational level, the age of entering the boarding centers of welfare, the period of staying in the centers, people who were visiting the girls, the visiting intervals, people to whom the participants were referring to during their vacation, vacation intervals, pre-training about puberty health, the place of pre-training and the age of first menstruation and number of menstruations were evaluated.The second section included 21 operational questions about puberty health as nutrition, using iron tablets, taking shower and the way of taking shower in menstruation, cleanliness and its right method in this period, using sanitary napkins and its changing, underwear and genital health, exercising and activity during this period, having pain and the way of its sedation. In addition, one question was about information sources of individuals on puberty issues. In scoring the operational questions, one was given to correct answer and zero to false one. Validity of the questionnaire was proven through content validity. Reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by Cronbach’s Alpha test which was 0.85. The training pamphlet of health behaviors of menstruation was handed to everyone. The training intervention was performed in four 40-minutes sessions and 6-10 people in each group in each center with leading of group discussion by the researcher. On the aim, first a brief information about menstruation cycle and the changes in this period was given to individuals. Then, by asking questions about specified subjects in the training programs, a group discussion about their performance was being done and good and bad performances were being recognized and they were being discussed in the direction of confirming or correcting them. The discussion was wrapped up with explaining the correct performance and it's advantageous by the researcher. The intervention lasted 3 months totally. At the end of the training sessions, a pamphlet was handed to individuals.In addition, a copy was handed to each training center.so; post-test was taken after a month of training. Statistical analysis: Data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods including means, standard deviation, calculation of percentages, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for studying the normality of data distribution and paired t-test to compare the mean score before and after intervention by using SPSS-16 software.
Findings by Text
There were 61 participants in this study totally and there was no decrease in the number of people. The mean age of individuals was between16.08±1.09.34.4%(21 people) of girls were between 12 to 15 years old. 52.5%(32 people) were in high school or upper level.36.1%(22 people) had been sent to boarding centers of welfare organization in the age range of 6-10 years. Among those who had visitors, 61.7% (29 people) was being visited once a month. The mean age of first menstrual cycle in individuals was 12.67±1.41 and 54.1% of people (33 individuals) in age of 12-13 had their first menstruation. 93.4% (57 people) of individual had been trainedbefore intervention about the puberty health that 50.9% (29 people) had been trained by school; 35.1% (20 people) had been trained by boarding centers and 14% (8 people) had been trained by both school and boarding centers (Table 1). According to the results of paired t-test in Table 2, the variation of mean score of the performance of individuals before and after the intervention was statistically significant (p<0.001).The study of frequency distribution of information source of individuals about menstrual issues and health behaviors in menstruation showed that the greatest information source of people were their school health teacher ( 50.8%, 31 people) and books, the visitors, the people who were visiting them during vacation, classmates, roommates and friends in centers, health center employees, classes of the centers, television, school consultant, teachers, magazine and newspaper, training pamphlets and radio were in next levels( Table 3). After the training intervention, the percent of people who were taking shower was increased from 88.5 to 100%, taking shower in stand position was increased from 86.9 to 98.4% and cleanness during the menstrual cycle was increased from 75.4 to 100% (Table 4).
Main comparison to the similar studies
As a result of the study with the aim of comparing the two training methods on knowledge, the point of view and performance of high school girls in Bandar Abbas city, significant increase in the mean scores of knowledge, attitude and performance of students in both groups was reported[34]. In addition, in another study, training with peers caused the promotion of physical health performance in the puberty of girls [35]. … [36-40]. The health training about menstruation should be started before the first menstruation cycle in order to make girls physically and mentally ready for this cycle [41]. … [42-44].
Suggestions
It is suggested that information related to puberty be included in schoolbooks. In addition, training classesshould be heldfor parents about adolescent girls` needs. Social media and broadcasting organization are other centers and sources that can have an effective role in this domain.
Limitations
As the limitations of this study, it can be referred to the difficulty of making relationship with people because of their special circumstances, sensation to the subject of puberty and related issue of this period. Visiting the centers and scheduling the training session because of their multiplicity and scattering of their places was hard.
Conclusions
The training intervention through group discussion has a positive effect in promoting the performance of under study individuals about menstruation health.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the assistance of Research and Technology Deputy of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, welfare organization of Tehran, the authorities in boarding welfare centers, and all the participants in this intervention.
Conflict of interest
Non-declared
Ethical Permissions
The consent form verified by welfare organization of Tehran was filled out by participants in the study before performance to get the individuals` permission. In addition, before performing the study, participants became aware of study goals, training content and the number of training sessions.
Funding Sources
The study was retrieved from a studying project with code number 14266 and part of MA thesis that was performed with assistance of Research and technology Deputy of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services.

TABLES and CHARTS

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