| dc.description.abstract | Menstrual hygiene management remains a major challenge in developing countries and is
sometimes unaddressed in public places such as schools. Although menstruation is an important
part of adolescent girls’ lives, if not managed in a dignified and healthy manner, it can result in
adverse health effects. Understanding determinants affecting menstrual hygiene management in
schools is essential in ensuring that the sanitation conditions do not present difficulty choices for
menstruating girls. The objectives of the study were to assess the cultural factors, to examine
available WASH facilities and to establish menstrual waste disposal methods and practices that
affect menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls. The study targeted 383 adolescent
school girls from Chuka Sub-County. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and
analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study was based on voluntary
participation. Inadequate knowledge on menstrual hygiene management prior to menstrual onset,
behaviour restrictions and the perception of uncleanliness when menstruating affected menstrual
hygiene management among the adolescent girls in schools. From this study findings, negative
attitude towards menstrual materials (r=0.144, p-value=0.001) and lack of sanitary materials
(r=0.752, p-value=0.000) constrained menstrual hygiene management. Findings showed that
49.9% of the adolescent girls accessed limited menstrual disposal facilities and 39.7% reported
lack of hand washing facilities in schools. Presence of hygiene facilities in schools had a
significant relationship with changing of sanitary towels (r=0.610, p-value=0.000), bathing
(r=0.781, p-value=0.008) and washing of hands after menstruation (r=0.419, p-value=0.000). In
addition, inadequate menstrual hygiene management facilities such as water, sanitary bins,
sanitary towels, private toilets and changing rooms affected menstrual hygiene management in
schools. Limited resources for purchasing menstrual hygiene management materials, the shame
of being associated with menstruation, the perception of uncleanliness during menstruation and
fear of being mocked by boys on staining of cloths and shared toilets constrained menstrual
hygiene management in schools. Existence of interaction restrictions with boys during
menstruation was a factor which qualified as a menstruation taboo and created a sense of stigma
for the menstruating adolescent girls. Failure to make girls aware of menstrual hygiene prior to
onset of menstruation reduced their probability of maintaining hygiene on their menarche
(r=0.371, p-value=0.000). Availability of soap and water was likely to increase changing of
menstrual materials while in school (r=0.313, p-value=0.001) and bathing during menstruation
(r=0.507, p-value=0.008). Girls’ comfortability with disposal places for menstrual materials
affected changing of menstrual materials in schools (r=0.882, p-value=0.000). The study
concluded that WASH facilities were not sufficient to meet the needs of menstruating adolescent
girls which amplified sanitation and hygiene stresses in schools. It was also concluded that
experiences of humiliation in schools during menstruation continue to be invisible which
represented the menstruation stigma that girls so silently encountered in schools. A holistic
menstrual hygiene response in schools that entails provision of girls friendly WASH facilities,
menstrual supplies and appropriate information is needed. The study recommended government
support and advocacy on provision of dignified menstrual hygiene management options in
schools. As well, there is need for eradicating the stigma associated with menstruation through
campaigning against restrictive social cultural values which seem so embedded in the society | en_US |
