Menstrual Hygiene Management among Basic School Girls in Legon, Accra

Abstract

Background: Menstruation is the recurring peeling of the inner part of the uterus or the shedding of the uterine lining on a regular basis in the reproductive-aged females during the monthly menstrual cycles. Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is an everyday challenge to the adolescent girl child globally, and in developing countries like Ghana. There is great need for the achievement of good hygiene practices among Basic School girls because attitude towards menstrual hygiene acquired from menarche lingers on in most parts of womanhood. Poor MHM can adversely affect the girl child and cause shame, stigmatization, low self-esteem, fear, and this may further lead to absenteeism in school. Positive menstrual hygiene management is important because it helps in preventing several health challenges which may be associated with poor menstrual hygiene management. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaires to collect data, followed by a survey to evaluate the sanitary provisions in the school. Two Basic Schools in the University of Ghana Legon, were identified and random sampling procedure was used to select the respondents. A total of 209 questionnaires were fully completed by the study group and recorded using Microsoft Excel version 13 software. This was further imported onto Stata version 13 software package for analysis. Analysis: Descriptive statistics was used to describe factors influencing adequate MHM. Results were expressed as percentages and presented using tables, frequency distributions and charts. Significant associations were determined with Chi square test at a 95% confidence level. Results Findings from this study revealed that the mean age at menarche of the adolescent girls in Basic Schools in Legon was 11.9 ±1.2 years. Menstrual Hygiene Management was promoted both at home and in schools; Perceptions and practices of the respondents showed that about 68% and 21% of the adolescent girls bathed two and three times daily respectively during menstruation. Fifty percent (50%) of the respondents changed sanitary products three times daily when menstruating, this was followed by about 47% who changed twice daily. More than half of them disposed their used sanitary products by wrapping and putting in the dustbins. Sanitary facilities were seen to be available and in use during the time of survey. There was a significant difference (p value <0.05), among respondents who bathed at different numbers of times by knowledge level when menstruating, 38.7% and 61.3% of those who take their bath twice daily were seen to have low-medium and high knowledge levels respectively. There were no significant differences in number of times respondents changed their used sanitary products a day by knowledge level (p-value of 0.537), methods of disposal of used sanitary products (p-value of 0.559) and what was used to wash the genitalia during menstruation (p-value of 0.558). Conclusion: This study found that menstrual hygiene practices among the Basic School girls were good, with socio-economic factors contributing to the use of good disposable menstrual products during menstruation. Sanitary facilities were seen to be available and in use although resources such as running water, soap for hand washing, and sanitary products in the event of an emergency were lacking. There were significant differences in menstrual hygiene practice by hygiene knowledge level in the number of times bath was taken daily by the adolescent girls during menstruation, and their experience of pain during menstruation. However, there were no significant differences in number of times respondents changed their used sanitary products a day by knowledge level, methods of disposal of used sanitary products and what was used to wash the genitalia during menstruation.