Menstrual Hygiene Practices and Sources of Menstrual Hygiene Information among Adolescent Secondary School Girls in Abakaliki Education Zone of Ebonyi State

Abstract

Menstruation is clouded by socio-cultural restrictions resulting in adolescent girls remaining ignorant of hygienic practices. The study was designed to ascertain the menstrual hygiene practices and sources of menstrual hygiene information among 1200 adolescent secondary school girls, who completed the questionnaire designed for the study. Out of 1200, 1191, representing about 99.3% return rate, correctly completed and returned their copies of the questionnaire. Percentages and chi-square (²) statistic were used to analyse the data. Percentages were used to describe the menstrual hygiene practices and sources of menstrual hygiene information among the respondents and chi-square statistic was used to determine whether significant differences (p < 0.05) existed in the girls’ menstrual hygiene practices and sources of menstrual hygiene information in relation to age, father’s occupation, mother’s occupation and number of senior sisters. Results showed that the girls’ menstrual hygiene practices were not cheering and received menstrual information from undependable sources. Significant differences were found among the girls in their menstrual hygiene practices and sources of menstrual hygiene information. Menstrual hygiene should be linked to the hygiene education programme in schools with active involvement of teachers and caring environment for menstrual hygiene has to be provided both at home and in school.

Key words: Menstrual, hygiene, practices, adolescent girls, secondary schools, Ebonyi state.