Menstrual Sanitation amongst Adolescent Girls in the Elgeyo Marakwet County of Kenya and the Effect on their Learning

Abstract

Introduction: An increasing number of studies have found that girls in low-income settings miss or struggle at school during menstruation if they are unable to manage their menstrual hygiene effectively. This study explores the menstrual hygiene practices and knowledge of girls at rural government primary schools in Elgeyo Marakwet County in Kenya and assesses the extent to which poor menstrual hygiene Sanitation (MS) affects their education. Methods: A self- administered questionnaire was completed by schoolgirls in six government-run primary schools in Elgeyo Marakwet County. Focus groups were held with girls from each school and semi-structured interviews were conducted with head teachers and female teachers from the participating schools. A toilet assessment was also conducted in each school. Results: One hundred and forty schoolgirls completed the questionnaire. The girls reported a lack of access to adequate resources, facilities and accurate information to manage their menstrual hygiene effectively at school. They reported that, as a result, during menstruation they often struggle at school or miss school. Eighty- six girls (61.7%) reported missing school each month for menstrual-related reasons (mean 1.64, range 0-10, SD. 1.84). Conclusion: It is common for girls who attend government-run primary schools in Elgeyo Marakwet County to miss school or struggle in lessons during menstruation because they do not have access to the resources, facilities, or information they need to manage for effective MS. This is likely to have detrimental effects on their education and future prospects. A large-scale study is needed to explore the extent of this issue.