KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG ADOLESCENT FEMALE APPRENTICES IN LAGELU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, IBADAN

Abstract

In Nigeria, as in most developing countries, problems of lack of facilities, menstrual hygiene education session in communities and time for observing good menstrual hygiene practice continue to exist in various communities. Moreso, literatures on menstrual hygiene management among adolescents at work places especially the informal settings are very scanty. Therefore, this study assessed knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene among adolescent female apprentices in Lagelu Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 421 post menarche adolescent apprentices between the ages of 10-19 years in the study area. A quantitative method involving use of semi structured pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on Socio demographic characteristics, knowledge, practices and factors influencing menstrual hygiene among respondents. Ethical approval was obtained from Oyo State Ethical Review Board before the commencement of the study. Knowledge was measured on a 15-point scale; score of <8 was classified as poor, ≥8<11 as fair and ≥11 was classified as good. A 12-point menstrual hygiene practice scale was used to assess respondents practice; score <7 was rated poor while score ≥7 was rated good. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with aid of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 21. Mean age at menarche was found to be 13.4±1.4 years. Majority of the respondents (96.2%) were single, 3.5% were married. More so 50.3% of the respondents were Muslims and 49.5% were Christians. Majority of respondents (77.4%) were aware of menstruation before menarche and 50.8% possessed good knowledge of menstruation. However, only 22.6% correctly knew that menstrual blood comes from the uterus and 55.5% did not know the normal length of menstrual cycle. Factors significantly associated with knowledge of respondents on menstruation include father’s level of education (p=0.001) and mother’s level of education (p=0.001). Although, half of the respondents had good knowledge of menstruation, 85.7% possessed poor menstrual hygiene practice. Factors significantly associated with respondents’ practice included lack of private washing facilities for cloth and napkin (p=0.050), private disposal facilities for disposable absorbent materials (p=0.015), lack of menstrual hygiene education session (p=0.003). Regression analysis confirmed that those who had pre-menarcheal training (p=0.025, OR=0.4), access to menstrual hygiene education (p=0.001, OR=8.3), those without facilities for promoting safe menstrual hygiene practices (p=0.008, OR= 6.4) and those who do not know whether there are facilities for this purpose (p=0.026, OR=2.8) were those who had poorer practice. Half of the respondents in this study have good knowledge of menstruation which did not translate to good menstrual hygiene practice as most respondents lacked time and resources to practice good menstrual hygiene practices. Hence, the need for providing menstrual hygiene education to respondents by mothers and other relevant stakeholders to create more awareness of the risk associated with poor menstrual hygiene, the need for provision of cleaning and private disposal facilities in order for menstrual hygiene practice of respondents to be improved.