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Table 1 Factors associated with feeling anxious about next period

From: Menstrual characteristics, menstrual anxiety and school attendance among adolescents in Uganda: a longitudinal study

 

Anxious about next period

Unadjusted

Model A—variables from levels 1 and 2

Model B—variables from levels 1, 2 and 3

 

Total

No.

%

OR

95% CI

aOR

95% CI

aOR

95% CI

Level 1

         

Resource limitations

         

Socio-economic status

    

p = 0.42

    

 Higher SES

116

71

61.2

1

     

 Lower SES

106

59

55.7

0.80

(0.47–1.37)

    

Socio-cultural context

         

School

         

 School A

     

1

 

1

 

 School B

     

1.14

(0.61–2.15)

1.13

(0.57–2.26)

Ethnic group

    

p = 0.18

    

 Muganda

102

58

56.9

1

     

 Munyankole

34

25

73.5

2.07

(0.86–4.97)

    

 Other

86

47

54.7

0.91

(0.51–1.63)

    

Religion

    

p = 0.84

    

 Roman Catholic

77

48

62.3

1

     

 Anglican

52

28

53.8

0.72

(0.35–1.47)

    

 Other Christian

54

32

59.3

0.88

(0.43–1.79)

    

 Muslim

38

22

57.9

0.88

(0.39–2.01)

    

Lives with mother

    

p < 0.01

 

p = 0.03

 

p = 0.05

 Yes

109

53

48.6

1

 

1

 

1

 

 No

113

77

68.1

2.25

(1.30–3.91)

1.87

(1.05–3.36)

1.91

(1.01–3.60)

Lives with father

    

p = 0.65

    

 Yes

85

37

43.5

1

     

 No

137

55

40.1

1.14

(0.66–1.97)

    

Level 2

         

Behavioural expectations

         

It is healthy for a girl to run, dance or cycle during her period

    

p = 0.03

 

p < 0.01

 

p = 0.07

 Agrees

107

55

51.4

1

 

1

 

1

 

 Doesn't agree

115

75

65.2

1.81

(1.05–3.12)

2.27

(1.26–4.11)

1.83

(0.95–3.50)

Menstrual knowledge

         

No. menstrual biology questions correcta

    

p = 0.02

 

p < 0.01

 

p = 0.01

 ≤ 7

133

69

51.9

0.50

(0.28–0.88)

0.46

(0.25–0.85)

0.44

(0.23–0.84)

 8/9

89

61

68.5

1

 

1

 

1

 

No. menstrual cycle questions correctb

    

p = 0.92

    

 0/1

79

46

58.2

1

     

 2/3

143

84

58.7

1.03

(0.59–1.80)

    

No. effective pain management methods knownc

    

p = 0.24

    

 0–1 methods

99

58

58.6

1.42

(0.73–2.74)

    

 2–3 methods

64

42

65.6

1.87

(0.90–3.87)

    

 4+ methods

59

30

50.8

1

     

Painkillers cause problems having children

    

p = 0.80

    

 Disagrees

126

73

57.9

1

     

 Doesn't disagree

96

57

59.4

1.07

(0.62–1.84)

    

When a girl has her period she is unclean

    

p < 0.01

 

p < 0.01

 

p = 0.04

 Disagrees

116

57

49.1

1

 

1

 

1

 

 Doesn't disagree

106

73

68.9

2.32

(1.34–4.02)

2.50

(1.38–4.51)

1.97

(1.04–3.73)

Sanitary pads can cause sickness or infection

    

p = 0.31

    

 Disagrees

141

79

56.0

1

     

 Doesn't disagree

81

51

63.0

1.34

(0.76–2.35)

    

Level 3

         

Menstrual practices

         

Only used manufactured materials at LMPd

    

p = 0.14

    

 Yes

162

90

55.6

1

     

 No

60

40

66.7

1.59

(0.85–2.96)

    

Individual menstrual factors

         

Blood leaked through clothes in LMP

    

p = 0.57

    

 No

82

50

61

1

     

 Yes

74

48

64.9

0.83

(0.43–1.59)

    

Pain during LMP

    

p = 0.65

    

 No

57

32

56.1

1

     

 Yes

165

98

59.4

0.87

(0.47–1.60)

    

Menstrual confidence

         

During my period I feel less self-confident than during other days

    

p < 0.01

    

 Disagrees

51

21

41.2

1

     

 Doesn't disagree

171

109

63.7

2.50

(1.31–4.76)

    

During my period I avoid physical activity (e.g. walking, running)

    

p < 0.01

   

p < 0.01

 Disagrees

110

50

45.5

1

   

1

 

 Doesn't disagree

112

80

71.4

3.04

(1.74–5.32)

  

2.49

(1.33–4.65)

I prefer staying at home during my period rather than going to school

    

p < 0.01

    

 Disagrees

167

89

53.3

1

     

 Doesn't disagree

55

41

74.5

2.64

(1.33–5.23)

    

I feel comfortable to talk to other girls at school about my period

    

p = 0.07

   

p = 0.11

 Agrees

103

54

52.4

1

   

1

 

 Doesn't agree

119

76

63.9

1.67

(0.97–2.89)

  

1.68

(0.89–3.17)

If I had a problem with managing my period, I would talk to another girl about it

    

p = 0.93

    

 Agrees

163

96

58.9

1

     

 Doesn't agree

59

34

57.6

0.97

(0.53–1.79)

    

Boys/girls tease me about my period

    

p < 0.01

   

p = 0.01

 Disagrees

171

90

52.6

1

   

1

 

 Doesn't disagree

51

40

78.4

3.25

(1.56–6.77)

  

2.89

(1.28–6.54)

Menstrual shame and distress

         

I worry about being teased during my period

    

p < 0.01

   

p = 0.01

 Disagrees

95

43

45.3

1

   

1

 

 Doesn't disagree

127

87

68.5

2.62

(1.51–4.54)

  

2.27

(1.21–4.27)

  1. aMenstruation knowledge statements (response true/false): Adolescence is the time between puberty and menstruation; changes in the body during puberty happen because of hormones; the physical changes related to puberty usually start between 10 and 14 years of age in girls, and between 12 and 16 in boys; menstrual blood comes from the stomach where food is digested; women stop menstruating after the age of about 40–50; menstruation in girls and women is normal; pregnant women menstruate; when a girl gets her first period, her body is ready to have children; during her period a girl can get pregnant
  2. bMenstrual cycle questions (closed responses): what is period blood; how long does a period usually last; how many days are there usually between periods
  3. cEffective methods: painkiller, drinking water, using hot water bottle, exercise, relaxing, foods with lots of water
  4. dReusable or disposable pads, tampons or menstrual cups