Management of menstrual hygiene, practices and perceptions among vulnerable Bharia women in Madhya Pradesh: A pilot survey

India has the highest proportion of adolescents and the highest adolescent pregnancy and childbirth rate in the tribal segment of the population. Very few studies have focused on the use of sanitary pad and quality of health care as menstrual hygiene practices. The data was collected among ‘Bharia’ women who identified as one of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) in Madhya Pradesh. Towards comparing the use, source, and components of menstrual hygiene practices among adolescents and adult mothers, the sample included adolescent (10-19 years) and adult women 20-49 years of age. The relevant information was collected by trained female investigator with designed questionnaire from the respondents. Findings revealed that only 22.7% women are using sanitary pad during menstruation period in the studied tribe. It was seen the use of this absorbent (sanitary pad) for menstrual hygiene among the adolescents were found significantly higher (37.5%) than that of adult women (14.3%), whereas, the use of old cotton was found significantly higher (78.6%) among adult women. Awareness on menstrual hygiene about 50% adolescents and 64% adult women believed it is a curse of God. About 25% adolescents and 21.4% adult women believed menstruation is a natural process. The tribe has underprivileged menstrual hygiene practices owing to low awareness, illiteracy, and poverty. The special IEC education campaign with suitable strategy can be forced to optimum hygiene practices.

Efficacy, Practicality, Intimal Health, and Sustainability of Menstrual Cups use among Undergraduate Medical Students: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Women need effective, safe, and affordable menstrual hygiene products. The menstrual cup is an alternative method. Objective: To identify the prevalence of menstrual cups among the medical students and the independent variables associated with their use adherence. Methods: a cross-sectional study with an online survey applied to regularly matriculate women from FEMA Medical School in January 2021. Results: Of 277 women, 164 participated. The mean age was 22.26 (SD 3.21). 136 preferred external pads, 60 internal pads, 28 menstrual cups, and 11 did not use. Using a 1-10 scale, price, efficacy, sustain, practice, intimal health status, hygiene, and importance of internal genitalia integrity were questioned. 37 (22,56%) women related the use of menstrual cups in the last year. Using any method to reduce menstruation had an odds ratio adjusted of 0.310 (95%CI 0.122-0.787). Concern about the environmental biodegradation had ORadj of 6.369 (95%CI 1.372-29.562); Intimal Health, ORadj of 1.996 (95%CI 1.183-3.368); internal genital integrity, ORadj of 0.824 (95%CI 0.682-0.995), for menstrual cups use. Conclusion: women using a method to reduce their menstrual flow, concerning about biodegradation, concerning with intimal health, and with no concerns about manipulating their genitalia were significant independent factors for the adherence of menstrual cups. Keywords: Menstrual Hygiene Products; Feminine Hygiene Products; Menstrual cup; Education, Medical, Undergraduate

Menstrual hygiene practice among adolescent girls in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Adolescent girls face several challenges relating to menstruation and its proper management. Lack of adequate sanitary products, inadequate water supply, and privacy for changing sanitary pads continue to leave adolescent girls with limited options for safe and proper menstrual hygiene in many low-income settings, including Ethiopia. These situations are also compounded by societal myths, stigmas surrounding menstruation, and discriminatory social norms. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled proportion of safe menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in Ethiopia using the available studies. Methods We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, African Journal Online (AJOL), Hinari, Science Direct, ProQuest, Direct of Open Access Journals, POPLINE, and Cochrane Library database inception to May 31, 2021. Studies reporting the proportion of menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in Ethiopia were considered. The Cochrane Q test statistics and I2 tests were used to assess the heterogeneity of the included studies. Since the included studies revealed considerable heterogeneity, a random effect meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled proportion of menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Results Of 1,045 identified articles, 22 studies were eligible for analysis (n = 12,330 participants). The pooled proportion (PP) of safe MHM in Ethiopia was 52.69% (95%CI: 44.16, 61.22). The use of commercial menstrual absorbents was common 64.63% (95%CI: 55.32, 73.93, I2 99.2%) followed by homemade cloth 53.03% (95%CI: 22.29, 83.77, I2 99.2%). Disposal of absorbent material into the latrine was the most common practice in Ethiopia 62.18% (95%CI: 52.87, 71.49, I2 98.7%). One in four girls reported missing one or more school days during menstruation (PP: 32.03%, 95%CI: 22.65%, 41.40%, I2 98.2%). Conclusion This study revealed that only half of the adolescent girls in Ethiopia had safe MHM practices. To ensure that girls in Ethiopia can manage menstruation hygienically and with dignity, strong gender-specific water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities along with strong awareness creation activities at every level are needed.

Adolescent Movement Cares About Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)

Lack of knowledge about The Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and poor water sanitation is a problem in adolescents in Indonesia. This community service activity aims to increase students' knowledge and awareness about MHM. This community service was carried out in October 2019 at SD Muhammadiyah Karangkajen I and SD Muhammadiyah Karangkajen II followed by 25 students from grades IV, V and V. The design of this activity is the provision of training on MKM by providing training modules and applying several learning methods including lectures, discussions, and simulations that begin with pretest and end postest. The results showed there was a difference in the average value of knowledge of students to MKM and statistically significant p<0.05. It is expected that students can do MHM appropriately and provide the right information to friends. Teachers are expected to play an active role in providing information about reproductive health so that students get accurate information

Evaluating the Impact of (WASH) Program on Education in the New Juaben North Municipal of Ghana: Evidence from SDA College Demonstration Basic Schools

The study assessed the causes of inefficiencies in the WASH programme at the Demonstration Basic Schools in the New Juaben North Municipal Assembly; examined the effects of the inefficiencies on the learners at the schools, and suggested appropriate strategies to improve the WASH programme. The researcher employed a qualitative approach to achieve these objectives. The population included headteachers, teachers and learners for the study. The study used purposive sampling technique to select 8 participants. This comprised three head teachers, two teachers and three learners from the school. The findings of the study showed that challenges that confront the WASH programme at the schools were inadequate water supply, poor sanitation and hygiene systems, lack of adequate handwashing points, unclean and not properly maintained toilets, lack of quality toilet facilities, lack of menstrual hygiene management (MHM), inadequate sanitary materials, and unhygienic toilet conditions. It is recommended that the government and authorities should improve the WASH system in the school. Moreover, adequate WASH facilities should be provided considering the various guidelines for WASH to ensure that facilities are adequate, sufficient, accessible, and safe for use by learners. Also, the Ghana Education Service should infuse sanitation education into the new or existing curriculum.

Assessment of an Educational Intervention on the Perception of Adolescent Girls towards Menstrual Hygiene in Ogun State, Nigeria

In low and middle-income countries, menstruation is impeded by several misconceptions, taboos and shrouded in secrecy. This serves as a major challenge to proper Education regarding menstrual hygiene and has blocked the access of adolescent girls to the right kind of information, thereby influencing a negative outcome associated with harmful behaviours. The objective of the study was to investigate the assessment of an educational intervention on the perception of adolescent girls towards menstrual hygiene in Ogun state, Nigeria. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design. One hundred and twenty (120) in-school adolescent girls were selected through a multistage sampling technique from four (4) secondary schools within four (4) local government areas in Ogun State, Nigeria. A validated 23-items questionnaire measured on a 69-point rating scale with a Cronbach Alpha scores 0.79 was used for data collection. The mean ±SD age and age at menarche of adolescent girls was 14.92±1.82; 12.73±1.38. The majority of respondents had low scores of perceptions. The educational intervention had an effective change in the level of perception of adolescent schoolgirls between baseline and the 6th-week follow-up, indicating a mean difference of 26.70 (p<0.01) for the peer-led, 26.54(p<0.01) parent-led, 20.16(p<0.01) parent and peer-led and a decrease in mean in the control group (-0.17; p=0.866). The peer-led educational approach had a better impact on adolescent girls’ perception compared to other educational approaches. Hence, this is an indication that peer-education strategies should be utilized for further interventions and in reaching out to adolescents.

Period Product Insecurity, School Absenteeism, and use of School Resources to Obtain Period Products among High School Students in St. Louis, Missouri

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) among female students is a neglected public health issue in the U.S. This study documented period product insecurity, school absenteeism, and use of school resources to obtain period products among high-school students in St. Louis, MO. Female students completed an anonymous, self-administered survey in English (n = 119). Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of period product need, resources used to obtain period products, and period-related absenteeism. The mean age of participants was 15.78 ± 1.28. Nearly two-thirds (64.4% (95% CI 55.1%-73.0%)) reported period product insecurity. Two-thirds (66.9% (95% CI 57.7%-75.3%)) reported using at least one of the school's resources to obtain period products. One-third of the participants (33.6% (95% CI 25.0%-43.1%)) reported missing school due to a lack of period products. School nurses need to be cognizant of how MHM affects their students’ attendance at school and what measures they can take to help reduce menstruation-related absenteeism.