Menstrual Hygiene Awareness, Practices and Health Implications Among Adolescent Girls in Ukpom Abak, Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria

Background: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is crucial for the health and well-being of adolescent girls. In many developing countries, including Nigeria, awareness and resources for proper MHM are lacking. This study aimed to assess the awareness, practices and associated menstrual hygiene health problems related to among adolescent girls in Ukpom Abak. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 169 adolescent girls. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS version 17.0 using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test to examine the association between menstrual hygiene products and lower urinary tract symptoms. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 12 ± 0.95. Alternatively, 12 (standard deviation = 0.95). Most participants were aware of menstruation before menarche (79.9%), with mothers being the primary source of information (42.6%). Sanitary pads were the most recognized (73.4%) and used (67.5%) menstrual hygiene products. Despite this, 57.4% of the respondents used reusable cloths. Some health issues around menstruation were reported, including abnormal vaginal discharge (60.4%), lower abdominal pain (47.3%) and genital itching (36.1%). There was a significant association between the type of menstrual hygiene products used and lower urinary tract symptoms (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The study highlights the need for improved menstrual health education and access to affordable menstrual hygiene products. Comprehensive interventions are necessary to promote proper menstrual hygiene practices and reduce health risks associated with inadequate menstrual hygiene management.