FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN OWO, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Introduction: This study assessed the level of knowledge, attitude, practice, and factors influencing the practice of menstrual hygiene among female undergraduate students in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. Menstrual hygiene and adequate self-care play an essential role in women’s reproductive health and wellbeing.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design and simple random sampling technique was adopted for this study. A self-structured questionnaire was employed for data collection. A sample size of 384 respondents were selected. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used for data analysis. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The mean ± SD age of participants was 23±0.742 years. The study showed a good knowledge level of 85.9%, positive attitude of 76%, and good practice of 60.4% among respondents. The findings from this study shows that there is a significant relationship between respondents’ class level and their knowledge of menstrual hygiene (X2 =263.233, df =4, p< 0.05). Also, a significant relationship was found between respondents’ age and attitude towards menstrual hygiene (X2=279.52, df =2, p< 0.05). The factors influencing practice of menstrual hygiene include inability to afford sanitary pads, lack of access to clean water for cleaning genitals, having heavy flow, inability to change pad in school whenever necessary, and lack of parental care.
Conclusion: The study showed that the respondents had good knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice regarding menstrual hygiene. The researcher recommends that adequate health education should be given to female students on the concept of menstrual hygiene and reproductive health in general; menstruation and its associated problems should be freely discussed in schools and not seen as a taboo.
Key words: knowledge, attitude, practice, factors, menstrual hygiene, female undergraduates
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