Factors associated with menstrual hygiene management among school going adolescents in Uganda

Abstract

Menstrual Hygiene Management is still a persistent major reproductive health challenge affecting school going adolescents in Uganda that necessitates urgent concern in sectors of water and sanitation, health, education and gender. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors associated with menstrual hygiene management among school going adolescents in Uganda. The study was descriptive and used quantitative survey dataset of PMA2020 Uganda 2017 the fifth round between April-May and was a two stage cluster design and was the first national wide survey trucking MH. In contextual analysis, among 4503 female respondents, 690 female aged 15-19 years who were attending school and reported menstruating three months prior to the survey, followed legible selection criteria for study. Frequency distributions of the respondents were generated at univariate analysis and Cross tabulations at bivariate level established a chi square test that helped to determine the association between predictor variables of social-demographic, environmental and menstrual absorbent factors for MHM. The study applied a binary logistic regression model to identify the odds ratios of good MHM among school going adolescents. Results revealed that 4 in 10 of school going adolescent managed good menstrual hygiene in Uganda. Higher odds of good MHM was statistically associated with adolescents aged 17-19 years, with secondary education, in high wealth status household, stayed in urban areas from central part of Uganda. Adolescent from higher and middle wealth status were significantly associated with higher odds (4.1 and 1.9) of good MHM respectively compared to those in low wealth status. Adolescents who used wells as source of water were significantly associated with higher odds (1.6) of good MHM compared to those using rainwater. Adolescents from Eastern region of Uganda were significantly associated with lower odds (1.4) of good MHM than those staying in Central region. Finally, adolescents who used main or school sanitary facilities as place of changing had higher odds of good MHM compared to those using the sleeping area respectively. Overall, the study findings acknowledged persistent poor MHM among school going adolescent in Uganda. The study therefore recommends government and other agents to provide menstrual materials to adolescents in low wealth status households, WASH in schools should excavate wells or provide alternative water sources in schools. In addition, place for changing should be one of the major components of sanitation facilities in institutions. Cross sectional studies on MHM practices be carried out among adolescent in Eastern Uganda.