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Exploring the menstruation experiences of women footballers in the Western Cape
Thesis (M Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1869484183558029312 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Poole, Katherine Anne |
| author2 | Jacobs, Shaundre D. |
| author_browse | Jacobs, Shaundre D. Poole, Katherine Anne |
| author_facet | Jacobs, Shaundre D. Poole, Katherine Anne |
| author_sort | Poole, Katherine Anne |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (M Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135929 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-07-01T04:10:50.723Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135929 Exploring the menstruation experiences of women footballers in the Western Cape Poole, Katherine Anne Jacobs, Shaundre D. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine. Menstruation Women soccer players -- South Africa -- Western Cape Women athletes -- Health and hygiene Sex differences -- Sports Exercise -- Psychological aspects Sports for women -- South Africa -- Western Cape UCTD Thesis (M Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Poole, K. A. 2026. Exploring the Menstruation Experiences of Women Footballers in the Western Cape. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/29100d12-bbde-4938-abd7-4bc6b4447460 ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Understanding menstruation experiences has recently become a global focus in women's sport, and simultaneously, sporting policies are beginning to consider these experiences to improve player well-being. In South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape, participation in women’s football has increased significantly over recent years, mirroring international trends. This rise has led to an increase in research in women’s football; however, most research has been conducted on elite participants, with most players participating in semi-professional and amateur levels. This study aimed to understand menstrual experiences in the local context of the Western Cape at a semi-professional level of football. Specifically, the study aimed to highlight barriers and facilitating factors influencing perceived performance due to menstruation. The study used the findings from current research in various sporting settings to guide the questions in semi-structured interviews. These questions related to menstrual symptoms and coping strategies, menstrual impact on perceived performance at various competition levels, support systems surrounding players, and access to resources and facilities. Social, cultural and institutional influences were also explored. A qualitative research design, while using a thematic analysis, was implemented to explore the results. Participants were recruited from the Sasol League in the Western Cape, which is the semi-professional division. The results demonstrated that although symptoms experienced were reported to align with all similar studies, the prevalence of management strategies, such as the use of hormonal contraception and tracking apps, was far less in comparison to other studies. Absence from training was far greater than absence from matches; however, many participants perceived that their performance was affected negatively due to menstruation. There was a significant increase in pressure to perform as competition levels increased. Support around menstruation was often limited, specifically from coaches. Gender dynamics played a large role in the relationship between coaches and players when discussing menstruation. A major finding was that although most players had access to sufficient menstrual products, access to appropriate facilities to manage menstruation was largely lacking. Many of the findings aligned with current research in women’s football; however, specific contextual differences highlighted the need for greater awareness, education and consideration of menstruation in local football in the Western Cape. These include gender-specific spaces, policies and female-focused interventions. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die begrip van menstruasie-ervarings het onlangs 'n wêreldwye fokus in vrouesport geword, en terselfdertyd begin sportbeleide hierdie ervarings in ag neem om spelerswelstand te verbeter. In Suid-Afrika, veral in die Wes-Kaap, het deelname aan vrouesokker die afgelope paar jaar aansienlik toegeneem, wat internasionale tendense weerspieël. Hierdie styging het gelei tot 'n toename in navorsing in vrouesokker; die meeste navorsing is egter op elite-deelnemers gedoen, met die meeste spelers wat op semi-professionele en amateurvlakke deelneem. Hierdie studie het die doel gehad om menstruasie-ervarings in die plaaslike konteks van die Wes-Kaap op 'n semi-professionele vlak te verstaan. Die studie het spesifiek die doel gehad om hindernisse en fasiliterende faktore wat waargenome prestasie as gevolg van menstruasie beïnvloed, uit te lig. Die studie het vrae en bevindinge van huidige navorsing in verskeie sportomgewings gebruik om die vrae in semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude te lei. Hierdie vrae het verband gehou met menstruasie-simptome en hanteringsstrategieë, menstruasie se impak op waargenome prestasie op verskeie kompetisievlakke, ondersteuningstelsels rondom spelers, en toegang tot hulpbronne en fasiliteite. Sosiale, kulturele en institusionele invloede is ook ondersoek. 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp, met behulp van 'n tematiese analise, is geïmplementeer om die resultate te ondersoek. Deelnemers is gewerf uit die Sasolliga in die Wes-Kaap, wat die semi-professionele afdeling is. Die resultate het getoon dat hoewel simptome wat ervaar is, ooreenstem met alle soortgelyke studies, die voorkoms van bestuurstrategieë, soos die gebruik van hormonale voorbehoeding en monitering programme, baie minder was in vergelyking met ander studies. Afwesigheid van oefening was veel groter as afwesigheid van wedstryde; baie deelnemers het egter ervaar dat hul prestasie negatief beïnvloed is as gevolg van menstruasie. Daar was 'n betekenisvolle toename in druk om te presteer namate kompetisievlakke toegeneem het. Ondersteuning rondom menstruasie was dikwels beperk, veral van afrigters. Geslagsdinamika het 'n groot rol gespeel in die verhouding tussen afrigters en spelers wanneer menstruasie bespreek word. 'n Belangrike bevinding was dat hoewel die meeste spelers toegang tot voldoende menstruasieprodukte gehad het, toegang tot toepaslike fasiliteite om menstruasie te bestuur grootliks ontbreek het. Baie van die bevindinge het ooreengestem met huidige navorsing in vrouesokker; spesifieke kontekstuele verskille het egter die behoefte aan groter bewustheid, opvoeding en oorweging van menstruasie in plaaslike sokker in die Wes-Kaap beklemtoon. Dit sluit in geslagspesifieke ruimtes, beleide en vroulik-gefokusde intervensies. Masters 2026-04-15T12:03:11Z 2026-04-15T12:03:11Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135929 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 98 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Menstruation Women soccer players -- South Africa -- Western Cape Women athletes -- Health and hygiene Sex differences -- Sports Exercise -- Psychological aspects Sports for women -- South Africa -- Western Cape UCTD Poole, Katherine Anne Exploring the menstruation experiences of women footballers in the Western Cape |
| title | Exploring the menstruation experiences of women footballers in the Western Cape |
| title_full | Exploring the menstruation experiences of women footballers in the Western Cape |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the menstruation experiences of women footballers in the Western Cape |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the menstruation experiences of women footballers in the Western Cape |
| title_short | Exploring the menstruation experiences of women footballers in the Western Cape |
| title_sort | exploring the menstruation experiences of women footballers in the western cape |
| topic | Menstruation Women soccer players -- South Africa -- Western Cape Women athletes -- Health and hygiene Sex differences -- Sports Exercise -- Psychological aspects Sports for women -- South Africa -- Western Cape UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135929 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT poolekatherineanne exploringthemenstruationexperiencesofwomenfootballersinthewesterncape |