The effect of an interactive game played with women of reproductive age with hearing disabilities on menstrual cycle and hygiene perception: a quasi-experimental study

AIM: Globally, access to menstrual cycle and hygiene information is limited, especially for women who are largely hearing impaired. Interactive games offer a promising approach as they increase knowledge about menstrual health. This study was conducted to determine the effect of an interactive game played with women of reproductive age with hearing disabilities on their perception of the menstrual cycle and hygiene. METHOD: This quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test study was conducted between May 30 and August 31, 2025, with 82 women with hearing disabilities (40 control, 42 intervention). In the intervention group, the interactive game was played once, and the post-test was administered four weeks later. No intervention was applied to the control group. Data were collected using a questionnaire including demographic information and sections on menstrual cycle and hygiene perception. Analyses were performed using the Independent Sample T-Test, ANOVA, Paired T-Test, and Mixed ANOVA. FINDINGS: The mean post-test scores of menstrual cycle and hygiene perceptions were statistically significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (F: 126.197, p < 0.001, ηp²: 0.612). It was also determined that all women in the intervention group (100%) were satisfied with the interactive game. CONCLUSION: This study found that the interactive game had a significant effect on the menstrual cycle and hygiene perception of women with hearing disabilities. Therefore, it is recommended that health professionals use the interactive game-based training model when providing menstrual cycle education and counselling, to support the knowledge levels of women with hearing disabilities.