Knowledge and Management of Menstruation and Menstrual Problems Among Urban and Rural Secondary School Girls in Enugu East Local Government Area

ABSTRACT In many societies menstruation is not openly discussed in some families, school and communities leading to a very big gap in knowledge about menstruation and menstrual problems. This gap equally poses problems on issues about menstrual hygiene, menstrual problems and management of those problems. In addition to inadequate information, girls need access to hygienic absorbent sanitary products, water, good toilets that ensure privacy and disposal facilities which can in the long run, protect their health. This study investigated the knowledge and management of menstruation and menstrual problems among urban and rural secondary school girls in Enugu East Local Government Area. A cross sectional descriptive survey was adopted for this study. The sample for the study comprised of 699 secondary school girls. Four Hundred were drawn from the three randomly selected secondary schools in urban area. The remaining 299 girls were from the only government owned secondary school in the rural area. The sample size for the urban schools was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula. A researcher developed questionnaire in questions and optional form was used to generate data. The results were presented in tables with frequencies, percentages and Pearson’s Chi-square was used to test hypotheses. The results showed that 497(87.0%) of the respondents had knowledge before menarche. Mothers were major sources of this information. There was significance difference (p0.05) in the menstrual problems experienced by Urban and rural girls. The majority 101(681%) of the respondents, use paracetamol to manage abdominal pains. Only 79(13.8%) of girls that have problems associated with flow consulted a doctor. There was a significance difference (P