Menstrual hygiene practices among adolescents in selected secondary schools around the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Menstrual hygiene is vital to the health, well-being, dignity and productivity of women and girls. The study assessed menstrual hygiene practices among adolescents in selected secondary schools around the University of Ibadan. The study was descriptive. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 381 respondents. Sanitary pad was found to be the most common (76.6%) menstrual protective materials used by the respondents. The choice of menstrual hygiene product by majority (42.3%) of the respondents was not dependent on any particular reason. Most (93.7%) of the respondents had information about menstruation before they started and mothers were the source of information for most (87.0%). Only 30.1% of respondents' reported that food intake affected the flow menstruation. It is therefore pertinent that mothers be well equipped to give the girl child appropriate information about menstrual hygiene practices, in order to promote the health of the adolescent girls.

Keywords: Adolescent, Menstrual hygiene, Practice, Secondary school