Management of menstrual disorder in adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities: a blessing or a curse?

Nurkhairulnisa, Abu Ishak; Chew, Kah Teik; Zainudin, Ani Amelia; Lim, Pei Shan; Shafiee, Mohamad Nasir; Kampan, Nirmala; Ismail, Wan Salwina Wan; Grover, Sonia; Azurah, Abdul Ghani Nur

Management of menstrual disorder in adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities: a blessing or a curse?

Files

OGI2018-9795681.pdf (1.03 MB)

Authors

Nurkhairulnisa, Abu Ishak

Chew, Kah Teik

Zainudin, Ani Amelia

Lim, Pei Shan

Shafiee, Mohamad Nasir

Kampan, Nirmala

Ismail, Wan Salwina Wan

Grover, Sonia

Azurah, Abdul Ghani Nur

Issue Date

2018-07-11

Type

Article

Language

en_US

Keywords

Menstrual Disorders , Adolescent Girls , Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to describe the menstrual pattern and menstrual care of girls with intellectual disabilities and to evaluate the impact of menstruation and awareness of parents/guardians on girls with intellectual disabilities. Methodology: Parents/guardians of girls aged 9–17 years with known intellectual disabilities who attended a scheduled public forum and Paediatrics and Adolescent Gynaecology Clinic (PAC) were recruited in a questionnaire-based study. Results: A total of 123 parents/guardians with a mean age of 41.83 ± 5.45 years completed the questionnaire. The mean age of girls with intellectual disabilities was 12.28 ± 2.78 years, and the mean menarcheal age was 11.12 ± 1.76 years. Only 53 (43.1%) parents/guardians were aware of availability of menstrual suppression. Parents/guardians with lower family income (OR = 0.00; 95% CI = 0.00–0.20), unable to manage menses (OR = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.00–0.61), and moderate severity of menses (OR = 0.01; 95% CI = 0.00–1.21), were associated with seeking medical help on menstrual suppression. The factors associated with parents/guardians requesting for sterilization were lower family income (OR = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.00–0.36) and concern about sexual abuse (OR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.06–0.39). Conclusion: Menstrual pattern in girls with intellectual disabilities is similar to those without disabilities. Parents/guardians' knowledge and awareness on menstrual suppression were still lacking.

Citation

Nurkhairulnisa, A. I., Chew, K. T., Zainudin, A. A., Lim, P. S., Shafiee, M. N., Kampan, N., Wan Ismail, W. S., Grover, S., & Nur Azurah, A. G. (2018). Management of Menstrual Disorder in Adolescent Girls with Intellectual Disabilities: A Blessing or a Curse?. Obstetrics and gynecology international, 2018, 9795681. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9795681

Publisher

Obstetrics and Gynecology International