Menstrual hygiene management practices and menstrual distress among adolescent secondary school girls: a questionnaire-based study in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Menstruation is a common and normal experience during the reproductive age of adolescent females and if not well managed might expose the female to menstrual distress. AIM & OBJECTIVES: To determine the menstrual hygiene management practices and menstrual distress among adolescent secondary school girls. METHODS & MATERIALS: Six hundred participants randomly drawn participated in the study. A structured questionnaire which had two inventories was used to collect data. The first inventory was a self-developed Menstrual Hygiene Management Practices Questionnaire (MHMPQ) (r = 0.71) and the second one was a modified 11-item Menstrual Distress Scale (MDS) (r = 0.74). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Results showed that menstrual hygiene management practices of the girls were poor and they were very highly distressed. Statistically significant differences were observed in menstrual hygiene management practices among the girls with regard to age, location of residence and occupation of mother and on menstrual distress in relation to occupation of father (p < 0.05). Significant positive relationship between menstrual hygiene management practices and menstrual distress was observed. CONCLUSION: The findings accentuate the need for a caring atmosphere for menstrual sanitation both at home and in school.