KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES ON MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN LUBAGA GIRLS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL, LUBAGA DIVISION KAMPALA. ACROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background.

Menstrual hygiene management continues to be a serious challenge among adolescent girls in Uganda. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and practices on menstrual hygiene management among adolescents in Lubaga Girls’ Secondary School.

Methods:

A cross-sectional descriptive study was used involving 96 adolescents. A purposive sampling procedure was used to select the respondents and the researcher administered a questionnaire for collecting data which was sorted, coded, and exported to SPSS for analysis. Analyzed data was presented in figures and tables reflecting frequencies and percentages.

Results:

62(64%) of the respondents were aged (17-19) years 66(69%) of the respondents were in between S.5 and S.6 classes, 40(41%) of the respondents knew about menstrual hygiene management (MHM) as practical strategies for coping with monthly periods,50(52%) described MHM as use of clean materials to absorb or collect menstrual blood. On practices,66(69%) knew that a menstruating girl should take a bath 2 times a day while 66(69%) knew that changing used materials should be done 2 times a day, and 51(53%) knew that used materials are disposed of anywhere outside the compound,52(54%) used old pieces of clothes.

Conclusion:

Adolescent girls had inadequate knowledge regarding MHM and poor MHM practices.

Recommendations:

The government through the Ministry of Education and Sports should incorporate Menstrual Hygiene Management in the school curriculum and this would improve the Menstrual Hygiene Management of adolescent girls