Knowledge and Practice of Menstrual Hygiene Management Among High School Girls and the Impact on Education in the Sunyani West Municipal, Ghana release_44ueh23nx5dadbe4ukftqg7sta

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:bold><jats:italic>Introduction</jats:italic></jats:bold>Most female adolescents in Ghana enter puberty unprepared and the information they receive is often selective and surrounded by many taboos and other restrictions. This study therefore seeks to assess the knowledge high school girls have concerning menstruation, how they practise menstrual hygiene and the impact menstrual hygiene management has on education.<jats:bold><jats:italic>Methods</jats:italic></jats:bold>A cross-sectional survey was carried out in conveniently selected JHS and SHS in the Sunyani West Municipality between March 19 and April 30, 2018 using self-administered questionnaires to elicit information on demographic features, knowledge, practices and challenges of menstruation and its management. A chi-square analysis was used to determine the association between a number of outcomes and explanatory variables. <jats:bold><jats:italic>Results</jats:italic></jats:bold>A total of 306 students participated in the study with a response rate of 87.4%. The mean age at menarche was 13.09±1.24 years. From the study, 83.01% (254) were knowledgeable on MHM. Knowledge of MHM was significantly associated with ethnicity (p-value 0.028). Almost all the participants 95.10% (291) used disposable sanitary material. From the study, 66.67% (204) had good practice of MHM. Practice of MHM was associated with religion (p value 0.037). The study revealed 27.45% (84) had ever absented themselves from school during menstrual period and majority of them 86.27% (264) were distracted about blood staining their dress during teaching. <jats:bold><jats:italic>Conclusion</jats:italic></jats:bold>The study group had high knowledge of MHM and a greater percentage observed good menstrual hygiene management. However, their knowledge of MHM does not necessarily translate into good practice of MHM.
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