Determinants of Menstrual Hygiene among Primary School Girl Projects In Nambale Division of Busia County, Kenya

Constantina Otwani, Dr Dennis Juma

Abstract: Many initiatives around the world are now addressing adolescent girls? menstrual hygiene management needs in coordination with ongoing efforts to improve water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and services in schools. In this regard, various organizations run hygiene projects in public primary schools in Busia County. Can it be said that these hygiene projects have equipped school girls with proper information about menstruation and menstrual hygiene. This study specifically aimed at revealing the participants? perceptions, knowledge and practices in relation to menstrual hygiene. The findings both highlighted gaps that hygiene projects need to address, as well as provided baseline status for organizations seeking to implement hygiene projects in the area. A cross sectional, exploratory and descriptive study approach was adopted using a stratified sampling technique. Data was collected from four focus group discussions and three hundred pre tested questionnaires administered to girls in classes 6, 7 and 8, from four primary schools. 89% of the respondents were found to view menstruation as a normal body function which signifies that one is now an adult. Mothers were the main source of menstrual information for 70% of the girls even though 49% of the participants? mothers are only educated to primary school level. Almost all the girls lacked the scientific knowledge about menstruation while 64% preferred to stay home when their menstrual flow is heavy. Gaps to be addressed include the misconception that menarche makes one an adult because some girls drop out of school at this stage to get married; demystifying menstruation early so that girls are not psychologically ambushed by their first menstrual experience; providing scientific knowledge about menstruation; including mothers and not just teachers in trainings on menstruation and addressing the inadequate MHM facilities which highly contribute to school absenteeism.

Keywords: Perceptions, Practices, Menstruation, Menarche, Adolescent girls, Puberty, Experience, Menstrual hygiene, Pre Menstrual Syndrome