Need based assessment study of mothers with pre-menarche daughters.

The present study titled “Needs based assessment study of mothers with pre-menarche daughters” is aimed at understanding the requirements of mothers of pre-menarche girls in North Bengaluru urban constituency. As a qualitative research technique, the study employed focus group discussion technique to procure data. It was a mixed group of mothers of pre-menarche girls speaking Tamil and Urdu language and practising Islam, Christianity and Hinduism. The themes and subthemes have delineated predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors. The study has unveiled thoughts and feelings of mothers anticipating their daughter’s onset of menstruation. The study has shown the lack of biological information, misconception and misinformation that mothers have about menstruation, and as a result the inability to communicate about menstruation. Their understanding of period is based on their lived experience of menstruation, which is related to body discomfort and restrictions imposed on them at menarche and thereafter. The study displays cultural practices that will be introduced to their daughters at the time of menarche as tradition. The current study has also revealed that mothers will introduce healthy menstrual hygiene practices at menarche.