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Meanings and experiences of menstruation: perceptions of institutionalized women with an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- CHOU Yueh-Ching, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 21(6), November 2008, pp.575-584.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
No studies have ever been conducted concerning menstrual experiences among women with an intellectual disability in Taiwan. An in-depth interview was conducted at three public institutions and perceptions and experiences regarding menstruation were elicited from 55 women aged 21–65 years. The participants knew about menstrual blood and could recognize the experiences of period pain and its link to femininity. The women's management of menstruation played a big part in their institutionalized life, where they had relatively limited choice and autonomy. Positive feelings towards the menstrual cycle were experienced by some participants; however, many had negative attitudes towards sexual activities or parenting, even though they knew the association between menstruation and pregnancy. Although these women's experiences of perimenstrual symptoms are quite similar to those of women without intellectual disability, their menstrual management, interpretations and attitudes to menses are influenced by their institutional life and by the society at large.
Predictors of female worker attitudes towards menstruation and the provision of help to institutionalized women with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan
- Authors:
- CHOU Yueh-Ching, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 67(4), August 2008, pp.540-543.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
No previous research has examined the importance of both individual and environmental factors for predicting caregivers' menstrual attitudes. To explore the predictors of female caregivers' attitudes towards menstruation and the help they give to women with intellectual disabilities, we conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey which was completed by 725 female workers from 12 institutions in Taiwan. The Menstrual Attitudes Questionnaire (MAQ) and a structured questionnaire were used. Logistic regression analysis revealed that individual characteristics such as age and education were significantly associated with menstrual attitudes of female caregivers working with institutionalized women with intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, the environmental context, such as the frequency of discussions with colleagues, training in menstrual management care and the level of difficulty when giving help in menstruation management, was important for improving caregivers' menstrual attitudes. This study contributes to the existing literature by determining both individual and environmental predictors of caregivers' menstrual attitudes.