Association between attitude and menstrual hygiene management practices among adolescent girls with disabilities in selected schools in Wajir County, Kenya

Abdiwahit A. Jama; Redempta K. Mutisya; Christine W. Njuguna; Vincent O. Matoke; Douglas S. Okenyoru

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20243276

Authors

Abdiwahit A. Jama Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Health Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
Redempta K. Mutisya Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Health Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
Christine W. Njuguna Department of Community Resource Management, School of Health Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
Vincent O. Matoke Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Health Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Community Health and Development, Faculty of Science, The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6159-9841
Douglas S. Okenyoru Department of Community Health and Development, Faculty of Science, The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20243276

Keywords:

Attitude, Menstrual hygiene management, Practice

Abstract

Background: Menstruation is the recurrent peeling of the uterine lining that occurs monthly on girls and women of the reproductive age. Many adolescent girls in African countries have poor knowledge regarding menstruation and this is even worse among menstruating girls with disabilities who are faced with a greater challenge as they require private and specific sanitation facilities. The study focused on establishing the association between attitude and menstrual hygiene management practices among adolescent girls with disabilities in selected schools in Wajir County.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. Census method was used to select respondents where 101 were interviewed. Pretested questionnaires were used to collect data. All necessary research approvals from relevant institutions were obtained as well as consent and assent sought from respondents and guardians where applicable. Data was managed using SPSS version 22.0 software.

Results: Most 88.1% of the respondents did not practice menstrual hygiene management. Further results revealed that 98.9% of those who had negative attitude had not practiced menstrual hygiene management. There was a significant statistical association between nature of attitude and practice of MHM (χ²=11.009, p*=0.029).

Conclusions: About 9 out of 10 adolescents with disabilities in Wajir County did not practice menstrual hygiene management. The nature of attitude towards menstrual hygiene management was significantly associated with practice. The study recommended provision of free sanitary pads by relevant stakeholders to all girls who are living with disabilities and provision of enough washrooms to address privacy issues.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

ICRW. Passion, Proof, Power. 2022. Available from: https://www.icrw.org/issues/adolescent-girls/. Accessed on 3 May 2024.

Nagesh S, Vohra M. Girls with Disabilities, on Periods. LeaderNet. 2020. Available from: https://leadernet.org/girls-with-disabilities-on-periods/. Accessed on 3 May 2024.

Critchley HO, Maybin JA, Armstrong GM, Williams AR. Physiology of the endometrium and regulation of menstruation. Physiol Rev. 2020;100(3):1149-79.

UNICEF. Guidance on Menstrual Health and Hygiene. 2019. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/media/91341/file/UNICEF-Guidance-menstrual-health-hygiene-2019.pdf. Accessed on 3 May 2024.

Kashyap V, Choudhari SG. Menstrual hygiene problems and challenges faced by adolescent females in rural areas: a narrative review. Cureus. 2023;15(6).

Enoch A, Nadutey A, Afful BF, Anokye R. Coping Strategies for Adolescents with Disabilities in the Kumasi Metro of Ghana. Disabil CBR Inclus Develop. 2020;31(2):77-91.

WHO. Menstrual Hygiene. 2018. Available from: http://menstrualhygieneday.org/managing-menstruation-for-women-and-girls-with-disabilities/. Accessed on 3 May 2024.

Kırbaş ZÖ, Kahriman I, Kaşko Arıcı Y. Training female adolescent students with intellectual disabilities about genital hygiene skills using peer training. Int J Develop Disabil. 2022;68(3):332-41.

Shah V, Nabwera H, Sonko B, Bajo F, Faal F, Saidykhan M, et al. Effects of menstrual health and hygiene on school absenteeism and drop-out among adolescent girls in rural Gambia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(6):3337.

MoEST. Basic Educational Statistical Booklet (2015a): Vol. a. Government Printer. 2015.

Maalim HM. Effects of lack of sanitary towel among the primary girls in Wajir county. Mount Kenya University. 2015.

Das M, Baker KK, Dutta A, Swain T, Sahoo S, Das BS, et al. (2020). Menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls with disabilities. J Health Stud. 2020;12(2):45-53.

Wilson E, Ford-Jones EL, Albert A. Challenges in menstrual hygiene management for young girls with disabilities. Disabil Health J. 2020;13(4).

Otieno PA, Macharia D, Magero V, Wambua J, Makhanu B, Osur J, et al. Menstrual health challenges and coping strategies among adolescent girls: A case of Kibera informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. BMC Women’s Health. 2021;21(1):1-10.

Chandra-Mouli V, Patel SV. Tailoring menstrual hygiene programs for girls with disabilities. Reprod Health. 2019;16(1):1-5.

Kimani-Murage EW, Wekesah FM, Nyothach E. Challenges in menstrual hygiene management among urban poor adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya. BMC Public Health 2020;20(1):1067.