Menstruation and menstrual practices are still clouded by socio-cultural practices and taboos making adolescent girls to remain ignorant of the scientific facts and hygienic health practices, which sometimes result in adverse health outcomes.
According to a recent study, girls from rural areas are the most affected by these taboos and cultural belief.
Menstrual Hygiene
Menstrual hygiene, a very important risk factor for reproductive tract infections, is a vital aspect of health education for adolescent girls.
How to Create Awareness
Educational television programmes, trained school nurses/health personnel, motivated school teachers and knowledgeable parents can play a very important role in transmitting the vital message of correct menstrual hygiene to the adolescent girl of today.
Menstruation is a phenomenon unique to females. The onset of menstruation is one of the most important changes occurring among the girls during the adolescent years. The first menstruation (menarche) occurs between 11 and 15 years with a mean of 13 years.
Adolescent girls are the most vulnerable, particularly in some parts of Kenya and Africa as a whole where girl child is neglected.
Menstruation is still regarded as something unclean or dirty in some communities in Kenya. The reaction to adolescent depends on the knowledge and awareness on the subject.
The manner in which a girl learns about menstruation and its associated changes may have an impact on her response to the event of menarche.
Although menstruation is a natural process, it is linked with several misconceptions and practices, which sometimes result in adverse health outcomes.
Women having better knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene and safe practices are less vulnerable to reproductive tract infections (RTI) and its consequences.
Therefore, increased knowledge about menstruation right from childhood may escalate safe practices and may help in mitigating the suffering of millions of women.