title: Perceptions among adolescent girls and their mothers regarding tampon use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the perceptions of perimenarchal females and their mothers regarding tampons and tampon use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study; convenience sample survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diverse pediatric practice setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  139 females 11-18 years of age and 129 of their mothers/female guardians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequencies, chi-square tests, t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most adolescents (38%-55%) respond "don't know" to various attitude and knowledge items pertaining to tampon use. Adolescent-mother pairs report similar perceptions about tampon use for adolescents. Mothers and adolescents who have "ever tried" tampons (including 68% and 56% of respondents, respectively) have more favorable attitudes about tampons than those who have not tried tampons. Adolescent females list their mothers as the primary source of tampon information; 70% of adolescents and 66% of mothers report that no doctor has spoken to them about tampon use for the daughter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a vast educational deficit among both adolescent females and their mothers regarding the use of tampons among youth. Adolescents and their mothers note that few providers have educated 11- to 18-year-old females or their parents about tampons. Providers have the opportunity to influence adolescent health choices and quality of life associated with tampon use.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Sports Medicine Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. amym@bcm.edu
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Middleman
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Varughese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D052576:Menstrual Hygiene Products; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010819:Physician's Role