Menstrual hygiene management among schoolgirls (Kenya)

The study examined social cultural factors, availability of WASH facilities and menstrual waste disposal practices among 383 adolescent school girls. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed in descriptive and inferential statistics. The study was based on voluntary participation. Findings revealed that WASH facilities were not sufficient to meet the needs of menstruating adolescent girls. There was limited menstrual disposal facilities in 49.9% of the schools and lack of handwashing facilities in 52.9% of the toilets. In addition, inadequate menstrual hygiene management facilities such as water, sanitary bins, sanitary towels, private toilets and changing rooms affected menstrual hygiene management in schools. Lack of privacy and poor maintenance of toilets as well as inadequate resources for purchasing sanitary towels constrained menstrual hygiene management. Findings also showed that there was sharing of toilets by both boys and girls in 5.4% of schools. This resulted to girls suffering from shame of being associated with menstruation and feared staining the shared toilets. Inadequate knowledge on menstrual hygiene management prior to menstrual onset, behavior restrictions and the perception of uncleanliness when menstruating affected menstrual hygiene management among the adolescent girls in schools. The study concluded that adolescent girls’ sanitation stresses can be amplified by inadequate access to menstrual management options in schools. The study recommended government support and advocacy on provision of menstrual hygiene management options in schools.