Knowledge Attitude and Practices of Menstrual Hygiene Among Adolescent Girls Between S1 - S4 St. Aloysius Bwanda Secondary School Kalungu.

Abstract

Background Adolescence signifies the transition from girlhood to womanhood and is marked with the onset of menarche. There is a significant gap in the knowledge on menstruation among the adolescent girls. Menstrual hygiene management is an important contention that is inadequately acknowledged and has not gotten sufficient attention. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls between S1- S4 at St Aloysius Bwanda Secondary School Kalungu so as to adopt interventions to promote adequate menstrual hygiene.

Methodology: The study was cross sectional quantitative data involving 188 adolescent girls who were sampled randomly. Data was collected through questionnaires.

Results: Only 36(19.1%) girls correctly defined menstrual hygiene. The important source of information on menstrual hygiene for the girls was found to be their mothers. More than three quarters of the girls in the study were not aware of the source of menstrual bleeding. Sanitary pads were used by 59.0% of the girls in the study. The practice of the changing absorbent was reported in 29.3% of the girls. Satisfactory cleaning of the external genitalia was practiced by 51.6% of the study girls. 34% of the girls had various different restrictions attached to them during menstruation periods.

Conclusion: The study established that the overall level of knowledge of the adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene was generally low. This study reveals that adolescent girls had generally negative attitudes towards menstrual hygiene and practices of the adolescent girls towards menstrual hygiene was generally poor. Recommendations: Therefore, school authorities should take up at least weekly sessions on the issues related to menstrual hygiene, invite various experts at times to address the important issues and teachers should address some issues in class and also inform the students about good and reputable sources which they should access for correct information. Matters concerning menstrual hygiene should be discussed with parents and their children an solutions thought to improvise on disposal bins and incinerators. The government and the Ministry of Education and Sports should revise policies concerning school construction and settings to suit girl child education for example constructing classrooms that have private sanitary facilities.