Effect of Health Education and Training Program for Secondary School Students on Menstruation at Assiut Governorate

Menstruation is a normal cyclic physiological event signifying the reproductive years in the human female. Early preparation for menstruation is important for future childbearing and for girl’s concept of herself as a woman. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of health education and training program for secondary school students on menstruation and menstrual hygiene. The study was carried out in urban and rural areas in Assiut Distrct, Urban area in Assuit City [El-Kayate secondary girls’ school], rural area in Mosha village [Mosha secondary girls’ school]. Sample of the study included 100 secondary school students aged 15-17 years from the urban andrural areas. They were divided into two groups: First group included 50 students from urban area and other 50 students from rural area. The systematic random approach was used. The program was applied to the 100 students. Evaluation of the knowledge and practices before [pre – test], immediate after the implementation of the program [post-test], and after three months [follow – up test] through the same predesigned questionnaire and check list was conducted to estimate the student’s knowledge and practice. The results revealed that all students had poor knowledge scores, while about two third [59%] of them had poor practices scores and showed highly statistical differences between the pre - test and the post-test and between the pre - test and the follow - up test related to total knowledge and practices scores [P= 0.000]. The study recommended that education about menstruation and menstrual hygiene should be included in elementary school curricula and adequate books and magazine, which include materials related to menstruation and menstrual hygiene, should be available to the preparatory school students.