Abstract:
Background: Globally, poor menstrual hygiene management remains a significant challenge,
particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Studies estimate that at least 500 million women
and girls lack access to adequate menstrual hygiene facilities. Further, menstrual hygiene plays a
crucial role in the lives of adolescent girls by impacting their ability to participate in academic and
extracurricular activities.
Objectives: To assess the knowledge and hygiene practices on menstruation, and associated
factors for knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices among grade 9-10 school
girls in Galle educational division
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 389 girls in
Galle educational division using the multi-stage cluster sampling method. A validated, modified,
self-administered questionnaire including socio-demographic information, general facts about
menstruation, knowledge about menstruation and its’ hygiene, practices regarding menstrual
hygiene was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, independent sample t-test,
one-way ANOVA were used to analyse the data.
Results: Among the participants, only 37.2% (n=125) had satisfactory knowledge on menstruation
and only 17.3% (n=66) had a satisfactory level of practices on menstrual hygiene. 50.5% (n=193)
participants used both sanitary and cloth napkins. 28.8% (n=110) change sanitary napkins more
than 3 times per day for the first two days of menstruation. Among the participants 86.9% (n=332)
washed genitalia with soap and water with every change of sanitary napkins. Knowledge of
menstruation was associated with menstrual hygiene practices (p=0.015), information received
from the media (p=0.010), experience on menstruation (p=0.025), mother’s level of education
(p<0.001) and father’s level of education (p<0.001). 76.7% (n= 293) were from nuclear families
and the hygiene practices on menstruation were associated with the type of the family (p=0.023).
Conclusion: The participants' overall knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices
were poor. Key factors influencing menstrual hygiene included parents' level of education, family
structure, and prior experience with menstruation.
