PRACTICE OF MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE STUDENTS IN META DISTRICT, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background:Good practice of menstrual hygiene management among adolescent and youth girls would be essential to keep and maintain their menstrual hygiene. Unhygienic menstrual practice affect the health of adolescent and youth girls that can increased the risks of morbidity, disability and deaths due to reproductive tract infections, pelvic inflammatory diseases and other reproductive health illness. However, menstrual hygiene has received low attention and inadequately addressed especially in Ethiopia educational institutions.Objective: To assess practice of menstrual hygiene management and associated factors among high school female students in Meta district in Eastern Ethiopia from September 1-octomber 21/ 2019 Methods: School-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 723 high school female students in Meta District using multistage stratified sampling technique. Self-administered pretested structured questionnaires were used to collect data from participants. Data were entered to EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS Version 24. Descriptive statistics were used to describe participants.Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with good practice ofmenstrual hygiene management. AOR with 95% CI were used to report association and significance was declared at P<0.05. Results: The prevalence of goodpracticeof menstrual hygiene management was 299(42.0%) (95% CI: 38.3%, 45.7%). Maternal formal education (AOR=5.05, 95% CI: 3.52, 7.24), being in grade10th(AOR=1.61; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.36),having employed mothers (AOR=1.66; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.71)], being from rich family (AOR=2.45; 95% CI: 1.56, 3.84 and good knowledge about menstrual hygiene management (AOR=2.26; 95% CI: 1.56, 3.27) were significantly associated with good practice of menstrual hygiene management. Conclusions: According to this study 42% of the participants had good practice of menstrual hygiene management. Therefore, good practice of menstrual hygiene management was significantly positive associated with being in grade10th , maternal formal education, employed mothers, being rich family and good knowledge about menstrual hygiene management.