Factors impacting on menstrual hygiene and their implications for health promotion

Lahme, Anne Mutunda; Stern, Ruth; Cooper, Diane

doi:10.1177/1757975916648301

Cited by 93Menstrual Health and DisordersAdolescent Sexual and Reproductive HealthHypothalamic control of reproductive hormones

Factors impacting on menstrual hygiene and their implications for health promotion

Lahme, Anne Mutunda, Stern, Ruth, Cooper, Diane·2018·Global Health Promotion

DOI 10.1177/1757975916648301

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the lives of women, puberty is marked by the onset of menarche. From this stage onwards until menopause, reproductive health and menstrual hygiene are important aspects of women's lives. In Zambia's Western Province, the natural process of menstruation is a taboo and dealt with secretly. Information and knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls is inadequate. This paper explores the factors influencing the understanding, experiences and practices of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in Mongu District, Western Province of Zambia. METHODS: An explorative study design was used by means of six focus group discussions conducted with 51 respondents, aged 13-20 years, from three secondary schools. Their age at menarche was 11-15. For data analysis thematic content analysis was used. RESULTS: The paper shows that the girls suffer from poor menstrual hygiene, originating from lack of knowledge, culture and tradition, and socio-economic and environmental constraints, leading to inconveniences, humiliation and stress. This leads to reduced school attendance and poor academic performance, or even drop outs, and ultimately infringes upon the girls' human rights. CONCLUSION: To address these shortcomings, a 'super setting approach' is recommended, in which a Health Promoting School could improve the girls' individual and group needs, and a community setting which would address the broader socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions. This would enable creating a supportive environment for the girls to manage their periods. To successfully utilize the approach, all stakeholders (parents, teachers, children, governments and communities) should cooperate to generate context-specific solutions for creating safe menstrual care, and better and dignified conditions for adolescent girls. Therefore, this calls for comprehensive, strident advocacy for policy changes at national level, and mediation and involvement at community level.

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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 [68]
In Zambia, Lahme and colleagues reported that participants experienced a single instance of seclusion during their first period that many girls found embarrassing and distressing.
“In Zambia, Lahme and colleagues reported that participants experienced a single instance of seclusion during their first period that many girls found embarrassing and distressing”
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 [68]

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Factors That Affect Menstrual Hygiene Among Adolescent Schoolgirls: A Case Study From Mongu District, Zambia
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Self-citation
Menstrual hygiene management in rural schools of Zambia: a descriptive study of knowledge, experiences and challenges faced by schoolgirls
Chinyama, J., Chipungu, J., Rudd, C., Mwale, M., Verstraete, L., Sikamo, C., Mutale, W., Chilengi, R., & Sharma, A. (2019) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-018-6360-2 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Factors that Influence Menstrual Hygiene Management in Adolescent Girls in Mudon Township, Mon State, Myanmar
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Adolescent girls’ menstrual hygiene management: evidence from rural northern Ghana
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Menstrual hygiene management practice and its associated factors among in-school adolescent girls in Western Ethiopia
Daniel, N., Kejela, G., Fantahun, F., Desalegn, M., & Guteta, F. (2023) · Contraception and Reproductive Medicine · doi:10.1186/s40834-022-00196-7 · Cited by 29 · see citing works

Authors: Lahme, A. M., Stern, R., & Cooper, D.
Affiliations: Akros Global Health, Lusaka, Zambia
University of the Western Cape (ZA)
Corresponding author: Lahme, Anne Mutunda
ORCID: Stern, Ruth
Cooper, Diane
Venue: Global Health Promotion
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2016-07-05
Volume: 25
Issue: 1
Pages: 54-62
ISSN: 1757-9759 (ISSN-L)
1757-9767
DOI: 10.1177/1757975916648301
OpenAlex: W2468608471
Cited by: 93
References: 12
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1
FWCI: 4.27
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Global Health Promotion (publishedVersion)
PubMed (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, menarche, menstrual taboos, menstrual knowledge, school attendance, academic performance, health promoting schools, menstrual care, Western Province, Zambia
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Hygiene, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Menarche, Menstruation, School Health Services, Schools, Socioeconomic Factors, Zambia, Qualitative Research, Young Adult, Reproductive Health

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