Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40410773›Full record

ArticleBMC women's health2025

Taking menstruation health and hygiene seriously: a qualitative exploration of the challenges and facility requirements of female adolescent athletes in Bangladesh.

Syeda Nurunnahar, Nazrin Akter, Farjana Jahan, Rehnuma Haque, Julie Hennegan, Mehjabin Tishan Mahfuz

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Article in BMC women's health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Syeda NurunnaharEnvironmental Health and WASH, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh. nurunnahar@icddrb.org.
Nazrin AkterEnvironmental Health and WASH, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Farjana JahanEnvironmental Health and WASH, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Rehnuma HaqueEnvironmental Health and WASH, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Julie HenneganWomen's, Children's and Adolescents' Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Mehjabin Tishan MahfuzMaternal and Child Nutrition, Nutrition Research Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProper menstrual management is crucial for well-being and reproductive health. Despite global efforts to improve menstrual health, more than 2.3 billion girls and women still lack access to adequate menstrual hygiene facilities. This issue is exacerbated in physically demanding sports, where menstrual health can impact performance.

objectiveThis study examines the menstrual experiences and challenges adolescent female athletes face in Bangladesh. It seeks to identify their current menstruation management practices, assess physical, psychological, and sociocultural challenges during menstruation, and evaluate the facility improvements and support systems needed to enhance menstrual management and athletic performance.

methodsA qualitative research design was employed, focusing on a phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of adolescent athletes. The study was conducted at the Bangladesh Institute of Sports Education (BKSP), which serves approximately 1,500 female athletes. A purposive sampling strategy selected 32 adolescent athletes for in-depth interviews (IDIs) and two focus group discussions (FGDs), which were segmented by age. Additionally, six key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with coaches and administrative staff. The data were collected through audio-recorded interviews, and thematic analysis was performed.

resultsThis study revealed that sociocultural taboos and misconceptions significantly affect menstrual management practices among athletes. Physical challenges include discomfort, irregular cycles, and limited access to menstrual hygiene products, contributing to increased absenteeism from training. Psychological impacts, such as concerns about reproductive health and inadequate guidance on oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), further complicate the situation. Both athletes and coaches expressed a need for better education and resources.

conclusionAddressing menstrual management challenges for adolescent female athletes requires a comprehensive approach. Enhanced knowledge and awareness, improved access to menstrual hygiene products, and targeted education for athletes and coaches are essential to enhance menstrual management and athletic performance.

Indexed as

AthletesHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHygieneMenstruationAdolescentBangladeshFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMenstrual Hygiene ProductsQualitative ResearchAdolescent athletesAnd InfrastructureChallengesMenstruation managementPolicySports performance

Identifiers

PMID40410773
PMCPMC12102870

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.