gms | German Medical Science

In developing countries like the Gambia Menstrual hygiene management has not been sufficiently addressed thus resulting into adverse health outcomes for adolescent girls. Parental, family and the societal influences plays a vital role in adding the knowledge level of girls and thus improving practice and behavioral change towards menstrual hygiene management. In St. Jones School for the deaf, adolescent girls are somewhat less privileged, so there is a need to observe the pattern of practices among them which reflects the scenarios in students of a similar school. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, practices and challenges experienced by the differently abled adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene management. A cross-sectional study was conducted at St. Jones School for the Deaf among fifty students; all the girls from grade seven to grade twelve in 2020. Respondents 42 (84%) agreed that poor menstrual hygiene management predisposes one to infections, Majority 82% of the respondents had poor knowledge on menstrual hygiene management. All the participants prefer to use disposable pads, and 6.3% of participants reported that they use both pads and reusable cloths. Around three-quarters (76%) of them reported that they dry their cloth pads inside the house, which encourages the growth of fungal infections. The practices of the individuals are influenced by family beliefs. Adolescents spend more hours daily in schools thus, administrators and policymakers should provide specific education and put in place strict measures to implement facilities in schools for Menstrual Hygiene Management.