Menstrual hygiene management inequalities among school girls in Badagry, Nigeria
Ruth C. Uwadia, Elizabeth O. Oloruntoba, Ojima Z. Wada, Olufemi O. Aluko
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The study assessed menstrual hygiene management (MHM) inequalities among public and private in-school adolescents in Badagry, southwest Nigeria. Also assessed was the impact of available water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities on MHM within the school premises. METHODS: For this descriptive cross-sectional study, 420 students were selected via multi-stage sampling and data were obtained via a validated semi-structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Data were analysed at 95% confidence limit. RESULTS: The students had a mean age of 15.3 ± 1.6 years. All the private schools had functioning WASH facilities whereas only 50% of public schools did. The toilet to student ratios for the private and public schools were 1:155 and 1:296, respectively. Over two-thirds (67.1%) of the students reportedly use sanitary napkins for MHM, followed by tissue (17.1%) and clothes (15.5%). Additionally, the private school students were two times less likely to use alternatives to sanitary napkins and 9.8 times more likely to obtain sanitary materials at school if required (p < 0.001). A significantly higher proportion of public-school menstruating in-school adolescents changed their sanitary towels in the bush (p = 0.003) due to lack of privacy and took their used sanitary materials home (p < 0.001) for management due to reduced access to sanitary bins. CONCLUSION: Even though the situation in the public schools was worse, both public and private schools lack the enabling environment for MHM. School health promotion interventions, such as provision of subsidised/affordable menstrual pads and basic WASH facilities and campaigns to break the culture of silence are required for the wellbeing of girls.