Conectar
The study aims to explore the experiences of adolescent girls with the onset of their first menstruation in the context of Pakistan and to highlight the sociocultural aspects that shape those experiences.
The study employs an exploratory phenomenological approach.
This study has been conducted at a public sector higher education institute, University of the Punjab, Pakistan. Female students enrolled in the first semester of the undergraduate degree programme were included in the study using a predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Data was collected from six 18 years old girls who had their menarche in the last 6 years through face-to-face in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide from June 2024 to August 2024. The interviews were audio-recorded given the written consent of the participants. Transcripts were analysed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s framework.
Thematic analysis of six interviews revealed three major themes: (1) Experience of first blood: emotional, social and practical difficulties; (2) The problem of mismanagement of first menstruation and the strategies used; and (3) Restrictions during menstruations. The study found that adolescent girls are provided with little to no prior knowledge regarding menarche and menstruation that causes various complexities and vulnerabilities. The social and cultural expectations and the gendered norms construct the experiences of the adolescent girls regarding their first menstruation, while the idea of womanhood is preserved in the society by restricting, isolating and alienating the adolescent girls and modifying their conduct and behaviour accordingly.
Menarche is often experienced as distressing, secretive and isolating for adolescent girls in Pakistan. Educational interventions in families and schools are needed to provide accurate, timely information and to support girls in navigating this transition with confidence and dignity.
To propose the collaging integration procedure for linking literature and theory to research data in mixed methods research (MMR) and illustrate its application in two mixed methods studies.
Discussion paper/research methodology.
The collaging technique was used and developed based on two exploratory sequential nurse-led mixed-methods studies.
The collaging technique entails using multiple artefacts (data fragments, figures and textual information) within one figure. Collaging can generate relevant pre-post linkages, create meaning and refine inferences and meta-inferences.
This paper offers a novel integration technique for meaningful integration of the literature review and theoretical dimensions in the integration trilogy.
Nurse researchers can use the collaging integration procedure for effective integration for conducting rigorous mixed-methods research. Collaging is a straightforward yet effective technique for enhancing integration in the literature review and theoretical dimensions in MMR.
Linking literature review, theory and research data facilitates a more meaningful interpretation of research findings. While researchers may be able to create a more fully integrated MMR design by integrating multiple dimensions of the study, to date, most of the empirical and methodological literature on MMR has focused on integration at the design, fieldwork, analysis and interpretation dimensions, ignoring others, such as the literature review and theoretical dimensions. Collaging enables intensive analysis of the raw data and embeds the insights gained from literature and theory throughout the data analysis and presentation, thereby avoiding neglecting insights which could have been gained by back-and-forth comparison and integration of literature review and theoretical underpinnings.
No direct patient or public contribution.
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