Effective Factors on Menstrual Health Among Female Students in Bam City A Qualitative Study

Backgrounds: Menarche has been described as an independent puberty event in girls and is accompanied by physical growth, ability in marriage and fertility. Therefore, poor menstrual health and inappropriate self-care are major determinants of morbidity, physical, psychical and social problems in this age group. So, the goal of this study is to explore Enabler Factors on Menstrual Health among Female Students in Bam City.Material and Method: This is a qualitative study with content-driven analysis approach in 2017. The participants were 32 individuals including: students and their mothers, school principle associates and health educators of 5 secondary schools in Bam city who were selected based on an objective-oriented approach. The sampling was done until data saturation. Data collection methods were observation and semi-structured and in-depth interview. Data were analyzed using to GranHaim and Landman’ suggested steps.Result: In total, 32 individuals participated in our study. Two classifications (positive and negative enablers to health behavior change), 13 sub-classifications and 52 primary and conceptual codes, obtained from interviews. positive enablers included Easy access to sanitary pad, Proper school education about menstruation, Easy access to physician or health centers ,Schools flexibility on menstruation issues and negative enablers included unavailability to sanitary pad disposal, lack of access to informed people about menstrual issues, normal considering some unusual menstrual problems, the high cost of treatment and fallow up menstrual issues, shame feeling on pursuing menstrual issues, self-medication with traditional medicines instead of referring to a doctor, insufficient self-directed education about menstruation, trusting inappropriate beliefs of experienced family members, lack of awareness and lack of trust in health centers staff to treat menstrual problems.Conclusion: Overall, this study indicated that several economic, social, cultural and educational factors effect on girls’ menstrual health. So, identification of these factors helps the planners to apply the most appropriate methods and strategies in order to improve girls’ menstrual health.