Safe menstrual hygiene management practice and associated factors among female adolescent students at high schools in central Ethiopia

A mixed–method study

Bibliographic Data

ID22080786
AuthorsBerhanu Senbeta Deriba (0000-0002-4282-1427, Salale University, corresponding author), Girma Garedew Goyomsa (0000-0002-6188-989X, Salale University), Girma Garedew, Diriba Gemeda (Salale University), Tinsae Abeya Geleta (0000-0002-5979-9641, Salale University), Kemal Jemal (0000-0001-8922-1827, Salale University), Elias Teferi Bala (0000-0002-5000-6609, Ambo University), Mulugeta Mekuria (0000-0001-9339-3955, Ambo University), Tadesse Nigussie (0000-0003-3123-5809, Salale University), Dejene Edosa Dirirsa (0000-0002-8137-6290, Salale University), Elsabeth Legesse (Salale University)
Year2022
Volume10
Pages913262-913262
Publication date2022-07-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.913262
PMID35958860
OpenAlexW4287921760
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited25

Background Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is a much-neglected issue in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Menstruating women and girls are forced into isolation, prevented from movement, dietary restrictions, and can be prevented from participating in daily routine activities. Furthermore, the way almost all previous studies conducted in Ethiopia measured the practice of MHM did not meet standard definition of safe MHM. This study aimed to assess safe management of menstrual hygiene practice and associated factors among female adolescent students in public high schools in central Ethiopia. Methods A mixed-methods approach was employed in this study. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 846 study participants. The collected data were entered through EPI INFO version 7 and exported to SPSS version 23 for cleaning and analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the association between MHM and independent variables. Finally, AOR, 95% CI, and p -value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The qualitative data was analyzed by ATLAS.ti in order to extract the main themes and categories. Direct quotations were presented with a thick description of the findings. Results The safe management of menstrual hygiene was 28.20%. Living with parents (AOR = 2.51, 95% CI:1.11–5.68), living with relatives (AOR = 7.41, 95% CI:2.55–21.54), having a merchant mother (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI:1.14–2.9), having a mother who has private work (AOR = 4.56, 95% CI:1.31–5.90), having a farmer father (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI:1.1–2.31), rural resident (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.17–2.21) and realizing the absence of container for storing sanitary napkins in the toilet of the school latrine (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.1–0.94) were factors associated with MHM. Findings from a qualitative study were discussed under four themes to explore barriers to menstrual hygiene management, and three themes emerged as enablers to menstrual hygiene management. Conclusions The safe management of menstrual hygiene was low among adolescent girls. People with whom adolescent girls live, the occupational status of mother and father, residence, the availability of a container to dispose of sanitary napkins in school toilets were factors associated with menstrual hygiene management. Behavioral change communications must be provided to female students about menstrual hygiene

Bivariate analysis · Environmental health · Family medicine · Hygiene · Logistic regression · Multivariate analysis · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Demography · Medicine · Menstrual Health and Disorders · Reproductive Health and Contraception

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