Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Menstrual Hygiene Among School Girls: A Cross-Sectional Study in Two Secondary Schools in Delta State, Nigeria

Introduction: Menstruation is a normal occurrence that is vital to teenage girls' health and development, but in low- and middle-income environments, there are still many misconceptions, a lack of knowledge, and negative attitude. Methods: Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, the knowledge and attitudes of menstrual hygiene among school girls in two secondary schools in Amai and Ezionum, Delta State, Nigeria, were evaluated in this study. A multistage stratified random sample procedure was used to select 401 respondents. SPSS version 23.0 was used to analyze the data, which were gathered via a structured self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics compiled sociodemographic traits, knowledge, and attitudes while at a significance threshold of p < 0.05, chi-square tests looked at associations between variables. Results: Of those surveyed, 53.6% were between the ages of 15 and 19, and 46.4% were between the ages of 10 and 14. While 48.4% of respondents exhibited good knowledge of menstrual hygiene, 51.6% showed poor knowledge overall. With 71.3% of respondents having negative attitudes on menstrual hygiene, the most common information sources were mothers (37.7%) and school teachers (34.2%). Both age and class level were substantially associated with knowledge (p = 0.000), with older pupils and those in senior classes showing higher knowledge. Conclusion: To encourage good menstrual hygiene, early school-based health education and parental involvement are required.