Awareness of Adolescent Girls in Senior High School on Menstrual Hygiene Practice: A Study in The Anum Presbyterian Senior High School, Easter Region-Ghana

Abstract

Ebenezer Quayson, Irene Owusu, Elsie Afful-Mensah (BSN, RGN), Woyram Afi Ametefe (BSN, RGN), and Deborah Ntriwaa AmoakoMensah (BSN, RGN)

In Ghana, the problem with menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls has been well documented. Whiles several reasons have been given for the menstrual hygiene issues in adolescent girls, knowing from the perspective of the adolescent girls could help better appreciate and provide lasting solution to the situation. Thus, the study was to assess from the perspective of Senior High School (SHS) adolescent girls in Ghana, their knowledge, practice, and factors that influences their menstrual hygiene practices.

A descriptive cross-sectional study design with quantitative approach and convenient sampling method was used in conducting the study. Standard closed ended questionnaire was used to elicit responses from registered respondents. The study revealed that 84.6% of the total respondents’ responses depicted good knowledge on menstruation and 66.7% showed good practices on menstrual hygiene. Intensifying education on menstrual hygiene practices at the second cycle education could help solve the problem of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls.

It was recommended that menstrual hygiene should be given more attention in the Adolescent Reproductive Health Curriculum at the second cycle education level in Ghana.

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