Factors That Affect Menstrual Hygiene Among Adolescent Schoolgirls: A Case Study From Mongu District, Zambia
Abstract
Menstruation is both a public health concern that requires hygienic management and a human rights issue that demands dignity and health. We conducted six focus groups with 51 respondents from three secondary schools in Mongu District, Western Province, in Zambia to explore factors that influence adolescent girls' understanding, experiences, and practices of menstrual hygiene. Thematic content analysis was used to identify multiple interrelated problems that stem from (1) culture and traditional practices, (2) inadequate accurate health information, and (3) poverty-related conditions. The girls faced menstruation-related inconveniences, bullying and humiliation, stress, infections, poor school attendance and performance, and dropped out of school. Policy recommendations are included.
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Many authors stated that most of their study population had deficits in knowledge of menstrual biology.
“Many authors stated that most of their study population had deficits in knowledge of menstrual biology”
From Women’s and girls’ experiences of menstruation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [69]
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- Authors
- Mutunda Lahme, A., & Stern, R.
- Affiliations
- School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, South Africa
- University of the Western Cape (ZA)
- ORCID
- Stern, Ruth
- Venue
- Women s Reproductive Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-09-02
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 198-211
- ISSN
- 2329-3691 (ISSN-L)
- 2329-3713
- OpenAlex
- W2771095280
- Cited by
- 10
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 4
- FWCI
- 1.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Women s Reproductive Health (publishedVersion)
- UWC Research Repository (University of the Western Cape) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Menstrual Health and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Keywords
- menstrual hygiene, adolescent girls, female students, health information, poverty, school dropout, school attendance, cultural practices, menstrual health policy
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