Pubertal Communication Between School Nurses and Adolescent Girls in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

We examined information on pubertal changes provided by school nurses to adolescent girls, the methods, and media of communication. We also examined the challenges faced by the nurses in the course of communication. The study setting was five private high schools located in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Participants were 10 school nurses and 420 school adolescent girls. Cross-sectional descriptive design was employed using quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Results showed school nurses paid more attention to physical body changes, menarche, and menstrual hygiene as contents of pubertal communication rather than contraception, prevention of sexually transmitted infection, and teenage pregnancy prevention. Materials for communication were reportedly lacking in many of the schools while the school management censors pubertal information. Efforts should be tailored at equipping the school clinic with audiovisual aids and school nurses should be encouraged to give comprehensive pubertal education irrespective of their values and beliefs.