Effect of audio educational sessions versus self-instructional module on knowledge, practice and behavior for visually impaired adolescent females regarding menstruation.

BACKGROUND: Visually impaired adolescent females (either completely blind or with partial vision loss) are a vulnerable group who require special attention and care, particularly when they begin menstruation during adolescence. AIM: Evaluate the effect of audio educational sessions versus self-instructional module on knowledge, practice and behavior for visually impaired adolescent females regarding menstruation. METHOD: A randomized controlled trial design was conducted at El-Nor Schools in Port-Said City. Sixty visually impaired adolescent girls who had begun menstruating were randomly assigned to two groups using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a Structured Interview Questionnaire, a Health Practices during Menstruation scale, and a Females' Behaviors and Restrictions during Menstruation scale. RESULTS: The SIM group's mean score for overall knowledge of menstruation at the post-test and follow-up educational sessions was higher than that of the Audio group, with the differences being statistically significant (P = 0.000). In contrast, the Audio group's mean score for overall menstrual health practices at the post-test and follow-up sessions was higher than that of the SIM group with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.000). Furthermore, Audio group's mean score for overall menstruation-related behaviors at the post-test and follow-up sessions was higher than that of the SIM group with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.000). In addition, a positive correlation was observed between the pre- and post-test total scores of knowledge, health practices, and behaviors in both study groups, with the differences being statistically significant (P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: Audio educational sessions, when combined with a Braille-based self-learning module, are both essential and highly effective in improving menstruation-related knowledge, practices, and behaviors among visually impaired adolescent girls. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered with the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Nursing, Port Said University, under code number NUR13, on 7/4/2022.