Knowledge on Menstruation Problem in High School Adolescent Girls of Rwanda, Kayonza District

Abstract

Menstruation and menstruation practices still face many challenges like social, cultural and religion restrictions which do not make easier menstruation hygiene management. In many parts of the country especially in rural area girls are not well prepared about menstruation which leads to many difficulties and challenges at home, school. The proportion of adolescent girls and boys with comprehensive knowledge of sexual and reproductive health issues generally increases with age, educational attainment and wealth. For instance, the likelihood that a girl in Kigali (Capital City) would claim to know a lot about health and menstruation is on average 52%, compared to 39% in the Northern Province and just 31-33% in the remaining provinces (Walker et al., 2014). Incomplete knowledge about menstruation is a great hindrance in the path of personal and menstrual management. Girls have little knowledge about reproductive tract infection due to ignorance concerning personal hygiene during menstruation time. In rural areas, adolescent do not have access to sanitary product and less knowledge on types and methods used or unable to afford such product due to the high cost. So, they mostly rely, on reusable cloth pads which they wash and reuse again. In this case they are is a need of clean water sanitation and in much quantity to clean themselves and material used during menstruation period. A clean environment, toilet facilities, and domestic dust management. All this information could be powerful when spread at home, community and at school level.