Practices on Menstrual Hygiene Management among Girls Aged 9 to 17 years in Mathioya Sub-County, Murang’a County
Abstract
Menstrual Hygiene Management is an essential component of women's lives. Morethan50% of teenage girls in low and middle income countries (LMICs) engage in inadequate Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) practices with a larger proportion in rural areas. Limited information regarding the magnitude of the problem of Menstrual Hygiene Management among adolescent females from these areas is known. In addition, limited data regarding the present-day approaches to Menstrual Hygiene Management has been recorded. Majority of published research papers on Menstrual Hygiene Management have primarily examined the types of Menstrual Management Materials as the main obstacles to achieving good MHM practices. This study was important to gain a deeper understanding of MHM practices among adolescent females below 18 years of age. This study’s objectives were to evaluate the existing personal hygiene habits, the type of menstrual management material utilized, and the disposal techniques employed to improve menstrual hygiene practices and overall well-being among adolescent girls in Mathioya sub-county, Murang’a County. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design and utilized a stratified random sampling technique. For participation, the study recruited a cohort of 387 adolescent females aged 9 to 17 years. Findings showed that 80% of the girls continuously adhered to appropriate personal hygiene practices by showering regularly, whereas 20% held a divergent viewpoint. Ninety-four (94%) of the female participants in the study reported changing their menstrual products every4–6hours, whereas 6% changed them twice within that time frame, depending on the intensity of their menstrual flow. Majority (98%) utilized soap and water for handwashing, whereas a small minority, around 2%, relied solely on water. Eight-six(86%)of the female participants utilized a cloth, soap, and water to cleanse their genitalia, whereas 14% relied solely on a cloth and water. In addition, almost all (95%) of these girls used disposable sanitary pads to efficiently manage their menstrual periods. Because of poverty, they faced numerous challenges in acquiring these items (89%). Only 92% of the female participants showed a preference for disposable sanitary pads, despite having received information about various menstrual management options. Due to the issue of period poverty, 85% of people have stated that the government and the Ministry of education should offer complimentary sanitary products to meet their needs. In the end, 97% of participants indicated that the most efficient approach for disposing of menstrual waste was to dispose of it in pit latrines. However, only 10%hadtheopportunity to use such latrines, and a substantial 83% of those individuals were unaware of the adverse repercussions associated with the inappropriate disposal of menstrual waste. Following the study findings, the research recommends that the State Department of Basic Education in the MOE should include menstrual hygiene management into the National School Health strategy as part of their education strategy, with the goal of enhancing personal hygiene behaviors among girls. The Murang'a county government and school administration should collaborate to offer support in supplying sanitary items and undergarments to adolescent females. Additionally, schools should provide materials for the proper disposal of menstrual waste and explore alternate alternatives to minimize waste.
