Menstrual Hygiene Management- A Study among Adolescent Girls in Five Schools in Bo District, Sierra Leone

Abstract

Menstruation can place significant impacts on girl’s health and education if they are not properly informed about effective menstrual hygiene management. The present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in five schools in Bo district, Sierra Leone and to assess the restrictions practiced by them during menstruation. A cross sectional study design was carried out among 103 in November 2019. A self-administered structured questionnaire at schools was used for data collection. Data was collected regarding their knowledge about menstruation, from where they get information and practices followed to maintain menstrual hygiene, problems faced while attending school during menstruation and facilities available in school, etc. The analysis part was done with the help of SPSS version 25. Age of respondents varied between 12-21 years with the mean age of 16.5. 69.9% of the girls don’t know from were menstrual bleeding occurs. Majority of the girls are using sanitary pads as absorbent during menstruation. 42.7% of the girls said they have been restricted from praying when seeing their menses and 49.5% of the girls said they feel their school is uncomfortable to keep hygiene during menstruation. The findings led to the conclusion that the girls have deficient knowledge and inadequate practices regarding menstruation and its management.

Impact of pandemic on women’s purchase decision for feminine hygiene products: a Covid-19 lockdown perspective

“…However, it has a secondary or indirect impact on the ability of females to manage their menstrual hygiene; even in the best of times, females fail to manage their menstrual hygiene properly. In this emergency, this condition has worsened as lockdown has badly impacted the manufacture, supply, and availability of products [11]. Reports revealed that around 67% of normal manufacturing operations and distribution have paused, and 22% of organizations reported no access to menstrual hygiene products, which is most affected in rural regions.…”