Educational strategies and their impact on the menstrual health of girls and adolescents. A narrative review

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, the concept of Menstrual Health refers to access to adequate menstrual products and appropriate health infrastructure, access to truthful, unbiased information and more generally, the existence of a favorable environment in which to experience menstruation safely and with dignity. Considering that menstruation is a biological process which is deeply influenced by cultural and social aspects perpetuated by existing stigmas and social barriers, designing and implementing educational initiatives for menstrual health constitutes a fundamental element of this process’s comprehensive approach, in addition to the development of self-care and empowerment tools which improve health, as well as participation in academic spaces and the wellbeing of girls and adolescents. Objective. To describe the strategies and initiatives implemented globally in order to improve menstrual health in young and adolescent girls in education, highlighting how these impact their physical, emotional and educational well-being. Materials and methods. A secondary narrative literature review study was conducted, where 31 articles published in the last 10 years describing pedagogical strategies or tools for menstrual health literacy in young and adolescent girls in education were analyzed. No language filter was applied. Results. Description of types of initiatives, initiative frequency and intensity, central themes used within their educational components, the initiatives’ outcomes and aspects to be considered in future projects. Conclusion. The effects of educational initiatives focused on health and menstrual management demonstrate a favorable impact on knowledge, attitudes, practices and stigma reduction, with these benefits increasing when multicomponent strategies, peer teaching, and family and teacher participation are employed.