Menstrual hygiene and health among adolescent girls in basic schools in Fodome- Ghana

Introduction: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is essential for the well-being of adolescent girls. The World Health Organization emphasized the importance of proper MHM to prevent infections and enhance girls’ quality of life. This study assessed the enabling environment necessary for effective menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls in basic schools in Fodome Township. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing a stratified random sampling approach to collect data from 318 adolescent girls. Data were gathered through structured questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed via STATA version 17.0, with logistic regression applied to examine the relationships between various variables. Results: Out of 318 basic school girls, 197 (62.0%) demonstrated good menstrual hygiene practices, and 205 (64.5%) had good knowledge of menstruation. Girls with access to separate toilets were 3.63 times more likely to practice good menstrual hygiene (AOR=3.63, 95% CI: 1.18–11.09, P=0.024). Additionally, the availability of dustbins in toilets increased the likelihood of good menstrual hygiene practices by more than three times (AOR=3.06, 95% CI: 1.62–5.78, P=0.001). In contrast, girls who were very dissatisfied with their menstrual products were significantly less likely to practice good menstrual hygiene (AOR=0.07, 95% CI: 0.01–0.54, P=0.011). Conclusion: The findings highlight suboptimal menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls in Fodome Township, with notable disparities in access to essential sanitary facilities.