We only use your email address to send you the newsletter and to see how many people are opening our emails. A full privacy policy can be viewed here. You can change your mind at any time and update your preferences or unsubscribe.

Puberty and menstruation knowledge among young adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review

12.12.18 | Global

Health, Nutrition and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) | Menstruation | Puberty

Authors

Ernestina Coast, Samantha R. Lattof and Joe Strong

This article presents a scoping review of evidence relating to knowledge and experiences of puberty and menstruation among females aged 10–14 years in low- and middle-income countries. Forty-four items from 12 countries were identified from a systematic scoping review and screening of 8083 items. Included studies were quality assessed. A majority (40/44) of studies used school-based samples, and fifteen studies reported on interventions. Girls had inadequate knowledge about menstruation; menarche as a trigger for girls learning about menstruation was common. Adolescents struggled with menstrual hygiene. Negative emotions were associated with menarche and menstrual management. A minority of studies dealt explicitly with puberty. Most girls obtained information about menstruation and/or puberty from their mothers, although mothers were not necessarily girls’ preferred source for learning about these topics. Young adolescent girls are under-prepared for puberty and menstruation. Predominantly school-based studies mean we know little about young out-of-school adolescents. The evidence base lags behind the rise in interest from practitioners as well as the development (and evaluation) of puberty and/or menstruation interventions.

Suggested citation

Coast, E., Lattof, S. R. and Strong, J. (2019) ‘Puberty and menstruation knowledge among young adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review’, International Journal of Public Health. Springer International Publishing, 64(2), pp. 293–304. (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00038-019-01209-0)


Related publications

Reports
20.02.25
Investing in adolescent girls: Key changes in the bilateral donor funding landscape – 2022 update
Across GAGE capabilities
Cross-country
Read more
20.02.25 | Across GAGE capabilities | Reports | Cross-country
Investing in adolescent girls: Key changes in the bilateral donor funding landscape – 2022 update
Read more
Journal articles
17.02.25
Adolescence, Interrupted: A narrative review of the impact of Covid-19 on adolescent wellbeing
Psychosocial well-being
Cross-country
Read more
17.02.25 | Psychosocial well-being | Journal articles | Cross-country
Adolescence, Interrupted: A narrative review of the impact of Covid-19 on adolescent wellbeing
Read more
Journal articles
17.02.25
Turbulent trajectories: Experiences of young adults from refugee and host communities in Lebanon during crises
Lebanon
Read more
17.02.25 | Journal articles | Lebanon
Turbulent trajectories: Experiences of young adults from refugee and host communities in Lebanon during crises
Read more