Menstruation Matters: Menstrual Practices of Filipina Adolescents in a Private School in Barangay 470, Sampaloc, Manila

Menstruation is a physiological process cycle occurring in females which involves discharge of blood and other materials of the uterus lining every month. Although menstruation in females from ages 13 to 50 years old is a normal process, several studies have shown that there are a lot of existing social and cultural norms and taboos in many settings, which serve as a significant obstacle to female adolescents' awareness regarding menstruation. Currently, one of the existing research gaps regarding young adolescent girls' knowledge of menstruation include the lack of evidence from a wider range of countries, including the Philippines, to provide a more comprehensive and robust evidence base that could be used for program and policy-making. In order to bridge the evidence gap, this study aims to determine the menstrual Needs and Practices of Filipina Adolescents in Sampaloc, Manila. Along with recognizing the participants' primary sources of information and general knowledge about menstruation, this would also reveal the subjects' obstetric and gynecological-related characteristics, such as age of menarche and menstrual patterns. Assessment of the hygiene practices of subjects along with their preparedness for menarche would also be conducted. Ultimately, this would also include a comparison between the socio-demographic profile of subjects depending on their awareness and hygiene practices regarding menstruation. This research would utilize a cross-sectional design with a general population of Filipina adolescents in a private school in Sampaloc, Manila. The study sample would be identified using convenience sampling for a total of 294 subjects (N=294). Finally, data will be gathered using the Menstrual Practice Needs Scale-Short Form (MPNS-SF) and Menstrual Practices Questionnaire (MPQ). Keywords: Menstrual hygiene, adolescents, Sampaloc Manila, menstrual practices, reproductive health