FACTORS INFLUENCING MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN LUBAGA GIRLS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL, LUBAGA DIVISION KAMPALA. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is the “use of clean menstrual materials to absorb blood and can be changed in privacy as necessary for the duration of the menstruation period. The study aims to identify factors influencing menstrual hygiene management among adolescents in Lubaga Girls’ Secondary School, Lubaga Division Kampala.

 Methodology

A cross-sectional study design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection. The study population for this study was adolescent girls studying at Lubaga Girls’ Secondary School. The sampling criteria for this study was purposive sampling.

 Results

The majority 62(64%) of the respondents were in the age bracket of 17-19 years and the minority 12(13%) were between the age of 13-14 years. The majority 66(69%) were in between S.5 and S.6 classes while the minority 10(10%) were in S.1 and S.2.  66(69%) mentioned 2 times, 19(20%) mentioned 3 times, and 11(11%) raised once a day when asked the times a menstruating girl should take a bath. The majority 51(53%) knew that used menstrual materials were disposed of outside the house, 20(21%) said in the rubbish pit, 15(16%) in the latrine while 10(10%) knew that used menstrual materials are burnt.

 Conclusion

Adolescents in Lubaga Girl’s Secondary School had inadequate knowledge of MHM, poor MHM practices, and the availability of menstrual products as a determinant in MHM.  

 Recommendation

There is a need for the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Education and Sports together with the Ministry of Health to improve the privacy of girls, access to clean water, and provide sanitary pads in schools to facilitate their menstrual hygiene management.