Comparing use and acceptability of menstrual cups and sanitary pads by schoolgirls in rural Western Kenya

Background: Girls in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) lack access to hygienic and affordable menstrual products. We explore Kenyan schoolgirls’ use and views of the cup compared to girls provided with disposable sanitary pads for a feasibility study.Methods: Schoolgirls aged 14-16 years, received a menstrual cup in 10 schools or 16 pads/month in another10 schools. All were trained by nurses on puberty, hand washing, and product use. They self-completed a net book survey at baseline and twice a term during a year follow-up. We examined their reported ease of insertion and removal, also comfort, soreness, and pain with product use. An aggregate ‘acceptability’ score was compiled for each product and girls’ socio-demographic and menstrual characteristics were compared.Results: 195 participants received cups and 255 pads. Mean age was 14.6 years, menarchial age was 13.6 years, with an average 3.8 days menses per month. Cup use was 39% in month 1, rising to 80% by month 12 (linear trend p<0.001). Pad use rose from 85% to 92% (linear trend p=0.15). Measures of cup acceptability demonstrated girls had initial problems using the cup but reported difficulties with insertion, removal and comfort reduced over time. Girls using pads reported fewer acceptability issues. At baseline, approximately a quarter of girls in the pad arm reported inserting pads intravaginally although this was significantly lower among girls with prior experience of pad use (aRR 0.62; 0.45-0.87).Conclusions: While a smaller proportion of girls provided with cups used them in the first months compared to girls given pads, reported use was similar by study-end, and early acceptability issues reduced over time. Girls in LMIC may successfully and comfortably use cups, but require instruction, support and some persistence.

Comparación del índice de masa corporal en escolares de Catamarca establecido por técnicas antropométricas, de autoinforme y test de figuras / Comparison of body mass index among schoolgirls in Catamarca as per anthropometric, self-report and figure rating scale techniques

Objetivo. Comparar valores medios de peso, talla e índice de masa corporal (IMC) según diferentes técnicas de medición y analizar las influencias del nivel socioeconómico y tipo de escuela. Métodos. Estudio transversal y descriptivo, con una muestra de 856 escolares mujeres de 15 a 18 años pertenecientes a escuelas secundarias de la ciudad de Catamarca. Se evaluó el peso y la estatura, y se solicitó el autoinforme de peso y estatura, junto con el test de siluetas de Stunkard. El nivel social se evaluó mediante la Family Affluence Scale. Se efectuaron pruebas t de Student para muestras pareadas e independientes para analizar las técnicas de medición del IMC y categorización por tipo de escuela, y análisis de la varianza unifactorial para el nivel económico. Se establecieron correlaciones de Pearson y regresiones lineales. Resultados. Se encontró una sobrestimación de la estatura (p < 0,001) con la técnica de autoinforme respecto a la antropométrica. Con respecto al IMC real, tanto las técnicas de autoinforme como de percepción por figuras presentaron diferencias significativas (p < 0,001). No se establecieron diferencias en las variables peso e IMC con el nivel económico de las estudiantes. Las estudiantes de escuelas privadas presentaron una mayor estatura (p = 0,004); estas diferencias también se observaron en la estatura autoinformada (p < 0,001). El 29,2 % de las estudiantes presentaron exceso de peso. Conclusión. Existen diferencias para la estimación del IMC entre las técnicas utilizadas, y hay una subestimación del IMC real.

Objective. To compare mean weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) values as per different measurement techniques and analyze the influence of socioeconomic level and school type. Methods. Cross-sectional, descriptive study in a sample of 856 schoolgirls aged 15-18 years attending secondary school in the city of Catamarca. Assessment included weight and height measurement, self-reported weight and height, and Stunkard's Figure Rating Scale. Socioeconomic level was assessed based on the Family Affluence Scale. Student's t tests were used for both independent and paired samples to analyze BMI measurement techniques and school type classification, and a one-way analysis of variance was used for the socioeconomic level. Pearson's correlation and linear regressions were established. Results. Height was overestimated (p < 0.001) when self-reported compared to the anthropometric measurement. In relation to actual BMI, the self-report and body figure perception techniques showed significant differences (p < 0.001). No differences were established in terms of weight and BMI by schoolgirls' socioeconomic level. Girls who attended private schools were taller (p = 0.004); such difference was also observed in self-reported height (p < 0.001). Excess weight was observed in 29.2% of schoolgirls. Conclusion. BMI estimations varied depending on the technique, and actual BMI was underestimated.

Eating behaviour of adolescent schoolgirls in Malang, East Java: a qualitative study

@# Introduction: Poor eating behaviour is known to lead to nutritional deficiency among adolescents. At the same time, poor eating behaviour characterised by dietary excesses could lead to overweight and obesity. The present study aimed to explore the eating behaviour of adolescent schoolgirls in Malang, East Java Province, Indonesia, and to determine the factors that influenced their eating behaviour. Methods: This was a qualitative study, guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), which focused on individual and environmental influences to better understand health-related behaviours, such as eating behaviour. Triangulation was applied to the study subjects (adolescent girls, their mothers, and school staff). The methods used included individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Qualitative data analyses were performed using Atlas.ti 7. Results: Most participants showed poor eating behaviour that was characterised by skipping breakfast, frequent consumption of fast foods and the consumption of local food with low nutrient content. Their eating behaviour was influenced by individual factors including personal preferences, the price of the food, and by environmental factors, such as the family, school and neighbourhood. Conclusion: Our findings showed that adolescent girls in Malang appeared to be aware of healthy eating but they showed unsatisfactory eating practices. Interventions are suggested to improve the poor eating behaviour of the adolescents toward avoiding malnutrition consequences.

Spectrum of visual impairment among urban female school students of Surat.

Aim: Eye morbidities with or without symptoms delineate a significant morbidity among adolescent schoolgirls in India. The study was undertaken to assess the extent of visual impairment and ocular morbidity to identify influencing factors and the impact on scholastic performance. Materials and Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was undertaken among 3002 urban girl students of Surat in Gujarat, India. Overall prevalence of refractive error was found to be 15.22%; myopia affected 91.47%, hyperopia 4.60%, and astigmatism 0.04%. The prevalence of myopia and astigmatism was more in higher age groups, while hyperopia was more in lower age groups; even students with good vision reported ophthalmic symptoms. Of all spectacle users, in 29.73% cases the eyesight was not found to be with the best possible corrections. Refractive error was observed to be higher among the general caste (50.98%) and among Muslims (54.05%). Still, among those with problems of eyesight, 75.93% students had good academic performance. Associated ocular morbidity was noted in 20.35% participants along with the refractive error. Conclusion: This study highlighted the load of eye morbidities of adolescent Indian urban girls.

Impact of Two Regimens of Vitamin D Supplementation on Calcium - Vitamin D - PTH Axis of Schoolgirls of Delhi.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of supplementation with oral vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) on bone mineral biochemical parameters of school-going girls. Setting: Government school (government-aided) and Private school (fee paying) in Delhi. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Intervention: Cholecalciferol granules (60,000 IU) orally with water, either once in two months (two-monthly D3 group) or once a month (one-monthly D3 group) for one year. Participants: 290 healthy schoolgirls (6-17 y), 124 from lower socioeconomic strata (LSES) (attending government schools) and 166 from upper socioeconomic strata (USES) (attending private schools). Outcome measures: Serum 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and alkaline phosphatase levels at 6 and 12 months after start of supplementation. Results: At baseline, 93.7% schoolgirls were vitamin D deficient [25(OH)D<50 nmol/L]. While significant increase in serum calcium and decrease in alkaline phosphatase levels was noted in both groups with both interventions, PTH response was inconsistent. In LSES subjects, twomonthly D3 and one-monthly D3 supplementation resulted in a significant increase in serum 25(OH)D levels by 8.3 nmol/L and 11.0 nmol/L, respectively at 6 months (P<0.05). Similarly, the increase in the two intervention arms in USES subjects was 10.5 nmol/L and 16.0 nmol/L, respectively (P<0.05). In both groups, this increase in serum 25(OH)D levels persisted at 12 months (P<0.05). Despite supplementation with 60,000 IU of Vitamin D3 (monthly or two-monthly), only 47% were vitamin D sufficient at the end of one year. Conclusions: 60,000 IU of cholecalciferol, monthly or two-monthly, resulted in a significant increase in serum 25(OH)D levels in vitamin D deficient schoolgirls.

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Schoolgirls / 대한비뇨기과학회지

One thousand one hundred forty nine (1149) young women, 13-21 years of age, were examined by urinalysis and bacteriologic methods for the frequency and natural course of asymptomatic bacteriuria. Five percent (58/1149) of the women were found to have a significant bacteriuria, of which 58.6% (34/58) had a transient colonization in the urinary tract and another 41.4 % had a persistent bacteriuria. 66.7% (16/24) of recurrent bacteriuric subjects had gram negative rod bacilli. In 8.6%(5/58) of asymptomatic bacteriuric subjects, symptomatic urinary tract infection developed within 6 months. An incidence of pyuria in asymptomatic urinary tract infection is 80%, but a sensitivity of pyuria to bacteriuria was low in asymptomatic urinary tract infection. A predictive value for detection of asymptomatic bacteriuria by pyuria was 19%. With urine collection by urethral catheterization a chance of contamination can be diminished, but may not be eliminated a chance of contamination from urethral mucosa. Randomized double blind study showed that asymptomatic bacteriuria can be effectively controlled by daily single dose of trimethoprim sufamethoxazole for five days.