Measurement in the study of menstrual health and hygiene: A systematic review and audit.
Journal
PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
Titre abrégé: PLoS One
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101285081
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2020
2020
Historique:
received:
06
11
2019
accepted:
09
04
2020
entrez:
5
6
2020
pubmed:
5
6
2020
medline:
15
8
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The lack of established measurement tools in the study of menstrual health and hygiene has been a significant limitation of quantitative studies to date. However, there has been limited exploration of existing measurement to identify avenues for improvement. We undertook two linked systematic reviews of (1) trials of menstrual health interventions and their nested studies in low- and middle-income countries, (2) studies developing or validating measures of menstrual experiences from any location. Systematic searching was undertaken in 12 databases, together with handsearching. We iteratively grouped and audited concepts measured across included studies and extracted and compared measures of each concept. A total of 23 trials, 9 nested studies and 22 measure development studies were included. Trials measured a range of outcomes including menstrual knowledge, attitudes, and practices, school absenteeism, and health. Most measure validation studies focused on assessing attitudes towards menstruation, while a group of five studies assessed the accuracy of women's recall of their menstrual characteristics such as timing and cycle length. Measures of menstrual knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and restrictions were inconsistent and frequently overlapped. No two studies measured the same menstrual or hygiene practices, with 44 different practices assessed. This audit provides a summary of current measures and extant efforts to pilot or test their performance. Inconsistencies in both the definition and operationalisation of concepts measured in menstrual health and hygiene research should be addressed. To improve measurement, authors should clearly define the constructs they aim to measure and outline how these were operationalised for measurement. Results of this audit indicate the need for the development and validation of new measures, and the evaluation of the performance of existing measures across contexts. In particular, the definition and measurement of menstrual practices, knowledge, attitudes, norms and restrictions should be addressed. CRD42018089884.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The lack of established measurement tools in the study of menstrual health and hygiene has been a significant limitation of quantitative studies to date. However, there has been limited exploration of existing measurement to identify avenues for improvement.
METHODS
We undertook two linked systematic reviews of (1) trials of menstrual health interventions and their nested studies in low- and middle-income countries, (2) studies developing or validating measures of menstrual experiences from any location. Systematic searching was undertaken in 12 databases, together with handsearching. We iteratively grouped and audited concepts measured across included studies and extracted and compared measures of each concept.
RESULTS
A total of 23 trials, 9 nested studies and 22 measure development studies were included. Trials measured a range of outcomes including menstrual knowledge, attitudes, and practices, school absenteeism, and health. Most measure validation studies focused on assessing attitudes towards menstruation, while a group of five studies assessed the accuracy of women's recall of their menstrual characteristics such as timing and cycle length. Measures of menstrual knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and restrictions were inconsistent and frequently overlapped. No two studies measured the same menstrual or hygiene practices, with 44 different practices assessed. This audit provides a summary of current measures and extant efforts to pilot or test their performance.
CONCLUSIONS
Inconsistencies in both the definition and operationalisation of concepts measured in menstrual health and hygiene research should be addressed. To improve measurement, authors should clearly define the constructs they aim to measure and outline how these were operationalised for measurement. Results of this audit indicate the need for the development and validation of new measures, and the evaluation of the performance of existing measures across contexts. In particular, the definition and measurement of menstrual practices, knowledge, attitudes, norms and restrictions should be addressed.
REVIEW PROTOCOL REGISTRATION
CRD42018089884.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32497117
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232935
pii: PONE-D-19-30808
pmc: PMC7272008
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Systematic Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e0232935Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Références
J Reprod Infertil. 2018 Oct-Dec;19(4):229-236
pubmed: 30746338
J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 1998 Jun;19(2):111-6
pubmed: 9638604
Ann Epidemiol. 2007 Mar;17(3):163-70
pubmed: 16882471
PLoS One. 2016 Dec 21;11(12):e0166122
pubmed: 28002415
PLoS One. 2017 Dec 7;12(12):e0189089
pubmed: 29216244
Health Care Women Int. 2018 Oct;39(10):1090-1109
pubmed: 29313762
J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2005 Apr;14(3):248-52
pubmed: 15857271
Psychosom Med. 1968 Nov-Dec;30(6):853-67
pubmed: 5749738
Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Jan 1;167(1):25-33
pubmed: 17928401
Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2019 Apr 11;:
pubmed: 30973825
J Physiol Anthropol. 2014 Sep 04;33:28
pubmed: 25189184
Cent Afr J Med. 1997 Jan;43(1):1-6
pubmed: 9185371
Soc Sci Med. 2016 Jul;161:37-46
pubmed: 27239706
Soc Sci Med. 1997 Mar;44(5):573-7
pubmed: 9032825
J Adolesc. 2015 Dec;45:284-95
pubmed: 26547145
BMJ Open. 2016 Mar 02;6(3):e010290
pubmed: 26936906
Reprod Health. 2017 Mar 1;14(1):30
pubmed: 28249610
Trials. 2015 Oct 26;16:481
pubmed: 26503139
Qual Life Res. 2006 Mar;15(2):203-15
pubmed: 16468077
PLoS One. 2013 Apr 26;8(4):e62004
pubmed: 23637945
Health Care Women Int. 1993 Jan-Feb;14(1):39-62
pubmed: 8454525
BMJ Open. 2016 Nov 23;6(11):e013229
pubmed: 27881530
J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2007;82(1-2):105-26
pubmed: 18217327
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Aug 07;15(8):
pubmed: 30087298
J Adv Nurs. 2009 Mar;65(3):652-62
pubmed: 19222663
Reprod Health. 2018 Aug 17;15(1):139
pubmed: 30119636
BMJ Open. 2017 May 4;7(4):e015429
pubmed: 28473520
Reprod Health. 2016 Dec 7;13(1):143
pubmed: 27923379
Psychosom Med. 1980 Sep;42(5):503-12
pubmed: 7465737
Am J Public Health. 2013 Sep;103(9):1556-9
pubmed: 23865645
BMJ Open. 2016 Dec 30;6(12):e012596
pubmed: 28039290
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006 Nov;60(11):993-7
pubmed: 17053289
Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2017 Apr 1;29(2):
pubmed: 26360494
PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e48274
pubmed: 23118968
Health Care Women Int. 1993 Jan-Feb;14(1):63-76
pubmed: 8454526
PLoS Med. 2019 May 16;16(5):e1002803
pubmed: 31095568
PLoS One. 2016 Feb 10;11(2):e0146985
pubmed: 26862750
Asian Pac Isl Nurs J. 2019;4(2):84-91
pubmed: 31259234
Health Care Women Int. 2006 May;27(5):453-73
pubmed: 16877294
Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2006;25(4):273-9
pubmed: 17162414
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1998 Sep;7(3):125-30
pubmed: 9826298
BMC Public Health. 2012 Mar 15;12:193
pubmed: 22420743
J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2015 Feb;24(2):151-8
pubmed: 25682816
Int J Prev Med. 2012 Sep;3(9):622-7
pubmed: 23024851
Glob Health Action. 2016 Dec 08;9:33032
pubmed: 27938648