Menstrual Hygiene Management and School Absenteeism among Adolescents in Ghana: Results from a School-Based Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Community

Table 2

Menstrual hygiene management of adolescent schoolgirls.

Parameters of practice	Number	Percent
Absorbent material used during the last menstrual period
Commercial sanitary pad	118	47.20
Reusable cloth pad	85	34.00
Disposable cloth	25	10.00
Cotton	7	2.80
Underwear/underpants	15	6.00
Change of absorbent material
Once daily	28	11.20
Twice daily	101	40.40
Thrice or more daily	113	45.20
Do not change until the next day	8	3.20
Wash hands before changing pad
Yes	190	76.00
No	60	24.00
How often do you wash your hands before changing your pad ()
Always	104	54.74
Most of the time	54	28.42
Sometimes	32	16.84
Wash hands after changing pad
Yes	237	94.80
No	13	5.20
How often do you wash your hands after changing your pad ()
Always	168	70.89
Most of the time	38	16.03
Sometimes	31	13.08
Disposal of used absorbent materials
Dustbin	38	15.20
Toilet	113	45.20
Open environment	2	0.80
Burnt	25	10.00
Buried	72	28.80
Materials for cleaning genitals when menstruating
Water only	71	28.40
Water and soap	162	64.80
Tissue paper	8	3.20
Towel	3	1.20
I do not clean/wash	6	2.40
Bath during menstruation
Yes	235	94.38
No	14	5.62
Overall menstrual hygiene practice
Good practice	127	50.80
Poor practice	123	49.20

Note: all the menstrual hygiene practice questions were self-reported by the adolescents.