Menstrual health and menstrual hygiene of adolescence as factors determining the health of a future woman: a multicentral study

Abstract

Background. The reproductive health of adolescents serves as a crucial indicator of the reproductive potential within a population. The menstrual cycle self-monitoring skills and the hygienic practices acquired during puberty significantly influence women's health in later life. Aim. To analyze the characteristics of menstrual health and hygiene among adolescent girls, with a focus on assessing the risks associated with reproductive disorders. Materials and methods. An anonymous, cross-sectional online questionnaire was distributed to 3,668 girls aged 13 to 17 across four regions in the Far Eastern Federal District. Utilizing cluster analysis, the participants were categorized into low (n=2,104) and high (n=1,564) reproductive risk groups. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0. Results. The age of participants in both groups was statistically comparable (p=0.87). Within the low-risk group, there was a significantly higher prevalence of city residents (64.2% vs. 49.8%; p0.001), individuals with regular menstrual cycles (94.3% vs. 41.2%; p0.001), those maintaining a menstrual calendar (87.4% vs. 52.3%, χ2=312.5; p0.001), and adequate frequency of hygiene practices (95.8% vs. 81.5%; p0.001). Additionally, the age of menarche was notably higher in this group, recorded at 12.0 years (interquartile range: 11.0; 13.0) vs. 11.0 years (interquartile range: 10.0; 12.0) in the high-risk group (p0.001). Pain intensity was lower in the low-risk group, with a score of 2.0 (interquartile range: 1.0; 3.0), compared with 8.0 (interquartile range: 7.0; 9.0) in the high-risk group (p0.001). Key predictors for high risk included dysmenorrhea (odds ratio [OR] 4.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5–5.1; p=0.001), irregular menstrual cycles (OR 3.8, 95% CI 3.2–4.6; p=0.002), lack of menstrual cycle monitoring (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.8–2.5; p=0.015), non-compliance with hygiene practices (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.6–2.3; p=0.032), and residing in rural areas (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.7; p=0.041). The regression model created, which incorporates these predictors, demonstrates high discriminatory ability, with an area under the curve of 0.86, sensitivity of 78.4%, and specificity of 81.2%. Conclusion. The assessment of demographic potential indicates that 42.6% of adolescent girls are at a high risk for reproductive disorders. Effective strategies to address this issue may include educational initiatives and awareness campaigns, particularly through online modules that increase access to reproductive education for young women in rural areas. The developed regression model holds potential as a valuable screening tool to enhance the accuracy of individual reproductive prognoses.