Menstrual Hygiene Management Practices and Associated Factors among Secondary School Girls in Lira Sub County Lira City West

Margret N

Published on: 2023-09-18

Abstract

Background: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) remains a public health concern globally, and menstruating girls in school environments face several challenges which include a lack of adequate, clean, safe, private toilets with water and disposal mechanisms for used menstrual materials, a lack of information, guidance and support on their changing bodies and insufficient materials for managing monthly menstrual flow. Despite the initiative of several organizations to create awareness and highlight the importance of good MHM, the actual proposed actions to address MHM are still largely underdeveloped

Aim: This study aimed at assessing the MHM practices and associated factors among secondary school girls in Lira Sub- County Lira City West division.

Method: A cross sectional study employing quantitative techniques was done. Data was collected from 312 participants by the use of semi-structured questionnaires. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Univariate analysis was performed to ascertain frequencies and percentages to describe variables while bivariate analysis was performed to ascertain existence of relationships between variables and multivariate was used to get predictors of MHM practices

Result: Poor menstrual hygiene management practice was 61.5%, and age of respondents (P-value 0.000, AOR 11.320), mother’s education level (P-value 0.011, AOR 3.921), father’s occupation (P-value 0.011, AOR 4.012), hearing about menstruation before menarche (P-value 0.001, AOR 1.882), knowledge about menstruation (P-value 0.000, AOR 12.213), discussion about menstruation with friends (P-value 0.044, AOR 1.220), soap and water being available in girls’ toilet (P-value 0.001, AOR 0.461) and MHM being taught at school (P-value 0.014, AOR 1.258), were significantly associated with MHM practices with a P value <0.05.

Conclusion: Almost two thirds (61.5%) of the students had poor MHM practices, The main contributors of this were respondent’s age, knowledge about menstruation, and availability of water and soap in girls’ toilet. The school environments were not female friendly for managing menses safely, indicating that the water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in the schools need urgent solutions.