KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS

1.1 Introduction

Menstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon which is unique to female and a healthy normal, mature process for adolescent girls. Menstrual hygiene is therefore an essential part of basic hygienic practices. Poor hygiene practices may affect their health. Menstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon which is unique to female and a healthy normal, mature process for adolescent girls. Menstrual hygiene is therefore an essential part of basic hygienic practices. Poor hygiene practices may affect their health. Menstrual hygiene is an issue that needs to be addressed at all levels. Menstrual hygiene is an issue that needs to be addressed at all levels (Shakya, 2017). Menstrual hygiene is important because it is a natural process of hygiene related to practice of girls during menstruation (Sharma & Moktan, 2016).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Globally, about 52% of female population are at reproductive age and commence menstruation between the ages of 10 and 19. Majority of Secondary Schools girls in Nigeria are adolescents. They represent a significant segment (44.8%) of the country’s population. Report suggests that adolescents who also include those in Nigeria, face numerous challenges which could be inimical to their health, such problems might include those associated with hygiene during menstruation (Ilo, Nwimo & Onwunaka, 2016).

Menstruation knowledge is the art of understanding the female physiology and processes that result in the monthly menses. Menstruation is managed differently according to social and cultural understandings. Menstrual hygiene is a hygiene practice during menstruation such as adequate cleaning of the external genitalia, use of sanitary pad and frequently changed pad every 3-4 hours to prevent odour. Unhygienic practices during menstruation predisposes to higher chances to get infection or gynaecological problems among adolescent girls (Balqis, Arya & Ritonga, 2016).

Menstruation is still regarded as something unclean or dirty in most societies. The reaction to menstruation depends upon awareness and knowledge about the subject matter. The manner in which a girl learns about menstruation and its associated changes may have an impact on her response to the event menarche. Most girls received their gynaecological information from their mothers, religious books, old sister or a peer. However, such information was generally given after menarche rather than before. Menstrual practices are clouded by taboos and social cultural restrictions even today, resulting in adolescent girls remaining ignorant of the scientific fact and hygienic health practices necessary for maintaining positive reproductive health. Women having better knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene and safe practices are less vulnerable to reproductive tracts infections and its consequences. The social stigma attached to menstruation causes many girls and women to carry out dangerous hygiene practices, lacking a platform to share menstrual hygiene problems, girls and women often suffer from discomfort and infection, avoiding urination during menstruation, and using any kind of cloth available old or unwashed (Mahajan & Kaushal, 2017).

Menstrual education is an important aspect of health education. However, many girls receive little to no information concerning puberty, the biology of menstruation or hygiene methods to manage menstruation and as a result, many are uncomfortable, insecure and ashamed to manage their menstruation (Sommer et al., 2013). Several studies, particularly from low-income countries show that a very high number of girls start menstruating without having any idea of what is happening to them and why (Neginhal et al., 2010; Jothy et al., 2012; McMahon et al., 2011). Lack of knowledge can lead to many practices which can be harmful especially among out-of-school adolescents whose population in the sub-Saharan region according to UNESCO and UNICEF (2015) has grown from 21 million in year 2000 to 23 million in year 2013. As this cohort are not enrolled in school, they are mostly found learning one vocation or the other in places without adequate facilities or roaming about the street without having access to cleaning and toilet facilities at the right time. Research conducted in India showed that use of cloth during menstruation was higher among rural and out-of -school girls (Khanna et al., 2005). If this is so, staying out of the house in places without adequate cleaning and toilet facilities during menstruation alongside lack of time and knowledge of good hygiene for almost the whole day will predispose these adolescents to health risks such as urogenital and other infections. After adjusting for other contributing factors, a study also confirmed that wealth and place where a woman changes her pads during menstruation were factors associated with bacteria vaginosis (Das et al., 2015).

Furthermore, the challenge of poor facilities and waste disposal required for effective menstrual hygiene exist in most parts of Nigeria as inappropriate disposal of absorbents used during menstruation contribute to the growing urban waste (Ten, 2007). Indiscriminate and unsafe disposal of menstrual absorbents can lead to environmental pollution. It can also lead to an increased risk of infecting others with diseases like Hepatitis B especially when there is direct contact with the blood by others (House et al., 2012).

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to examine the Knowledge and Practice of Menstrual Hygience among Female Students.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that menstrual flow is a natural occurrence in the female body. However the management of the menstrual waste is has become a major problem among female undergraduate students in University of Nigeria. Most of the female students do not know how to effectively dispose the materials used during menstruation; some do not know the hygiene management procedure to adopt during menstruation. It is to this regard that the study desire to examine menstrual waste management practice among female undergraduate students in University of Nigeria.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Knowledge and Practice of Menstrual Hygience among Female Students. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine the method used in menstrual waste disposal among female students in the study area.
2. To identify the problems associated with the handling of menstrual wastes among female students in the area under study.
3. To determine the relationship between menstrual waste management and the wellbeing of female students in the study area.
4. To assess knowledge of menstruation and practice of hygiene among female students in University of Nigeria.
5. To proffer solution to the above stated problems.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Is there any relationship between menstrual waste management and the wellbeing of female students in University of Nigeria?
• What is the method used in menstrual waste disposal among female students in University of Nigeria?
• What are the problems associated with the handling of menstrual wastes among female students in University of Nigeria?
• What is knowledge of menstruation and practice of hygiene among female students in University of Nigeria?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant knowledge of menstruation and practice of hygiene among female students in University of Nigeria
• H1: There is a significant knowledge of menstruation and practice of hygiene among female students in University of Nigeria

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant relationship between menstrual waste management and the wellbeing of female students in University of Nigeria
• H1: There is a significant relationship between menstrual waste management and the wellbeing of female students in University of Nigeria

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1.7 Significance of Study

The study on menstrual hygiene practice will be of immense benefit to the female undergraduate female students In University of Nigeria by educating the students on the menstrual waste management and the various methods used in menstrual waste management. The study will serve as a repository of information to other researchers that desire to carry out research on the above topic. Finally the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge in this field of study and provide a basis for further research.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on Knowledge and Practice of Menstrual Hygiene among Female Students using University of Nigeria (UNN) as a case study.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Menses: blood and other matter discharged from the uterus at menstruation.

Menstrual cycle: The menstrual cycle is the regular natural change that occurs in the female reproductive system that makes pregnancy possible.

Hygiene: conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.