Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the differences in menstrual symptoms and practices among university students from Turkish Republics, African, and Middle Eastern countries. METHODOLOGY: This study is a cross-sectional research conducted among international and domestic female students studying at a university in western Turkey. The sample consisted of 714 female students determined by the sampling method for a known population. The data of the study were collected online in the 2022-2023 academic year via the Personal Information Form and Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire. Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of two independent groups, the Kruskal Wallis H test was used for the comparison of more than two independent groups, and the chi-square test was used for the comparison of categorical data. RESULTS: The mean age of the students participating in the study was 21.49±1.80 years and 81.1% of the students were from Turkish Republics, 14.6% were Middle Eastern, and 4.3% were African. 98.7% of the students were single, and 90.1% had lived in urban areas. Turkish Republic students had less frequency of product changing during menstruation, more information about perineal hygiene during menstruation, use of cotton underwear, proper cleansing in the toilet, and standing showering during menstruation compared to other students(p<0.05). African and Middle Eastern students reported a higher frequency of not mentioning the continuation of sexual intercourse during menstruation compared to Turkish Republic students(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The research has shown that there are international differences in the symptoms and practices related to menstruation among female students from different cultures and nationalities.