Includes Appendices and References

ABSTRACT
Menstrual Hygiene Management is an essential component of women's lives. More than
50% of teenage girls in low and middle income countries (LMICs) engage in inadequate
Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) practices with a larger proportion in rural areas.
Limited information regarding the magnitude of the problem of Menstrual Hygiene
Management among adolescent females from these areas is known. In addition, limited
data regarding the present-day approaches to Menstrual Hygiene Management has been
recorded. Majority of published research papers on Menstrual Hygiene Management
have primarily examined the types of Menstrual Management Materials as the main
obstacles to achieving good MHM practices. This study was important to gain a deeper
understanding of MHM practices among adolescent females below 18 years of age. This
study’s objectives were to evaluate the existing personal hygiene habits, the type of
menstrual management material utilized, and the disposal techniques employed to
improve menstrual hygiene practices and overall well-being among adolescent girls in
Mathioya sub-county, Murang’a County. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional
design and utilized a stratified random sampling technique. For participation, the study
recruited a cohort of 387 adolescent females aged 9 to 17 years. Findings showed that
80% of the girls continuously adhered to appropriate personal hygiene practices by
showering regularly, whereas 20% held a divergent viewpoint. Ninety-four (94%) of the
female participants in the study reported changing their menstrual products every 4–6
hours, whereas 6% changed them twice within that time frame, depending on the
intensity of their menstrual flow. Majority (98%) utilized soap and water for hand
washing, whereas a small minority, around 2%, relied solely on water. Eight-six (86%)
of the female participants utilized a cloth, soap, and water to cleanse their genitalia,
whereas 14% relied solely on a cloth and water. In addition, almost all (95%) of these
girls used disposable sanitary pads to efficiently manage their menstrual periods.
Because of poverty, they faced numerous challenges in acquiring these items (89%).
Only 92% of the female participants showed a preference for disposable sanitary pads,
despite having received information about various menstrual management options. Due
to the issue of period poverty, 85% of people have stated that the government and
ministry of education should offer complimentary sanitary products to meet their needs.
In the end, 97% of participants indicated that the most efficient approach for disposing of
menstrual waste was to dispose of it in pit latrines. However, only 10% had the
opportunity to use such latrines, and a substantial 83% of those individuals were unaware
of the adverse repercussions associated with the inappropriate disposal of menstrual
waste. Following the study findings, the research recommends that the State Department
of Basic Education in the MOE should include menstrual hygiene management into the
National School Health strategy as part of their education strategy, with the goal of
enhancing personal hygiene behaviors among girls. The Murang'a county government
and school administration should collaborate to offer support in supplying sanitary items
and undergarments to adolescent females. Additionally, schools should provide materials
for the proper disposal of menstrual waste and explore alternate alternatives to minimize
waste.