Alkhatib Asem, Wu Weizi, Alshikh Ahmad Hoda, Pakwan Suwal Ratee, Ni Zhao, Li Xianhong
Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Faculty of Nursing, Hama University, Hama, Syria.
Int J Nurs Sci. 2023 Mar 20;10(2):221-229. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2023.03.004. eCollection 2023 Apr.
Menstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon among female which could be influenced by the process of acculturation. Few studies have explored the experience of menstrual symptom changes among international female students studying in China. Therefore, this paper aims to summarize international female students' experiences of menstrual symptom changes when they were studying in China and interpret these changes through considering the influence of acculturation on their social and academic lives.
We used a descriptive phenomenology approach. Structured in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted between May and November 2019 among ten international female students studying in one Province located in south central China. Participants were those who reported having experienced menstrual symptom changes during the acculturation period, which was defined as the first six months of living in China. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 11.0 with the guidance of Colaizzi's seven-step method.
The international female students' experiences of menstrual symptom changes were summarized and grouped into five main categories and 13 subcategories. The main categories include: 1) demonstration of menstrual symptom changes, 2) challenges of maintaining menstrual function in the new setting, 3) coping styles to take care of menstrual health, 4) consequences of the menstrual symptom changes, and 5) culture-based attitude toward menstruation.
International female students reported experiences of menstrual symptom changes, including somatic and psychological symptoms during the acculturation period. Culture barriers, academic stress, and sleep patterns are common factors influencing their menstrual symptom changes. More culturally-tailored interventions should be explored to improve the menstrual health of international female students in China.
月经是女性正常的生理现象，可能会受到文化适应过程的影响。很少有研究探讨在中国学习的国际女学生月经症状变化的经历。因此，本文旨在总结国际女学生在中国学习期间月经症状变化的经历，并通过考虑文化适应对其社会和学术生活的影响来解释这些变化。
我们采用描述性现象学方法。2019年5月至11月，对在中国中部某省学习的10名国际女学生进行了结构化深度面对面访谈。参与者是那些报告在文化适应期（定义为在中国生活的前六个月）经历过月经症状变化的人。所有访谈均进行了录音，逐字转录，并在Colaizzi七步法的指导下使用NVivo 11.0进行分析。
国际女学生月经症状变化的经历被总结并分为五个主要类别和13个子类别。主要类别包括：1）月经症状变化的表现，2）在新环境中维持月经功能的挑战，3）照顾月经健康的应对方式，4）月经症状变化的后果，5）基于文化的月经态度。
国际女学生报告了月经症状变化的经历，包括文化适应期的躯体和心理症状。文化障碍、学业压力和睡眠模式是影响她们月经症状变化的常见因素。应探索更多针对文化的干预措施，以改善在中国的国际女学生的月经健康。
