ASSESSMENT OF GOOD MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS INSELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Background: Menstruation, though a natural process is linked with several misconceptions and practices which sometimes results in adverse health effects due to lack of adequate information on menstrual hygiene.
Aim: The study focused on assessment of good menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls in selected secondary schools in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State.
Method: A cross-sectional study design was adopted with a convenience sampling technique and 163 adolescent girls from three secondary schools were selected for the study. A validated (r=0.8) structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: The findings indicates that, all the respondents have experienced menstruation with majority (43.18%) observing good menstrual hygiene while (30.6%) did not have the idea of good menstrual hygiene. Some identified ways of managing menstrual periods were: use of good absorbent materials (34.6%), cleaning with absorbent materials after use (13.3%). The study reported a significant
association between good menstrual hygiene and the adolescents’ general health and well-being (P = 3.84) (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Majority of the adolescent girls in the study area observed good menstrual hygiene withthe use of absorbent materials though some of them did not have adequate information on good menstrual hygiene. A significant relationship exists between good menstrual hygiene and adolescent’s
health and well-being. An enlightenment campaign is needed to strengthen adolescents’ information on good menstrual hygiene.