Seeking and encountering online information for menstrual health: a qualitative study among adolescent schoolgirls in Gianyar Regency and Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia.

Abstract

Sufficient and accurate information is a requirement for menstrual health and supports adolescents in realising their human rights. As mobile connectivity increases globally, many young people may seek or encounter menstrual health information online through web-based platforms, social media, or health apps. Despite the relevance of online information, menstrual health research and programming have focused on formal and school-based learning. Using a participatory and ethnographic approach over seven months from November 2022 to June 2023, this qualitative study explores how adolescent girls between 13-15 years of age in junior high school in two districts of Bali, Indonesia, access and use online information for menstrual health learning. Findings are from 20 group discussions; sessions were held five times with each group across four schools. Fourteen participants also completed solicited diaries, and five participated in interviews. Data is also drawn from participant observation in schools and community spaces. We found that informal online information is a significant source of menstrual health learning and is accessed through active searching and incidental encounters. The motivations to access and use online information were specific to participants' menstrual health needs. We found that online information presented opportunities for personalised and convenient learning. However, it also presented risks associated with excessive and inappropriate information that caused worry and reinforced menstrual myths. Our findings highlight the need to account for informal online information in future research and programming on menstrual health, particularly in contexts with a high level of mobile connectivity among young people.