In Pakistan, like many countries across the globe, menstruation is perceived as a shameful and private matter that is not meant to be discussed openly. Due to this culture of shame and secrecy, adolescent girls in Pakistan often lack accurate knowledge and awareness regarding menstruation. According to Shah et al. (2023), 51.7% of schoolgirls were unaware of menstruation before experiencing their first period. As a result of this limited knowledge, many girls associate menarche with negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, and depression (Bashir et al., 2020).
Furthermore, several studies conducted in Pakistan indicate that girls often felt scared during their first menstruation because they did not understand what was happening to them (Arshad Ali et al., 2020; Michael et al., 2020; Shah et al., 2023).
For more details, read the full document: Addressing Menstruation Taboos Among Adolescent Girls.
