RELATION BETWEEN
HEALTH AND
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
Presentation Out line
1. Introduction
Menstrual Cycle
2. Evidences and mensuration Related Social
Taboos
3. Menstrual Hygiene
4. RH menstrual Hygiene
5. Poor and Safe Menstrual Hygiene
Introduction
In Ethiopia, 51% of the population is female and23%
of women are of reproductive age.
Menstruation is associated with puberty for girls
(normally between the ages of 9 and 14) and a time
of biological change which is a natural part of the
reproductive cycle, however it remains taboo and is
rarely talked in many communities.
knowledge about the physiological process
associated with sexual maturity and biological facts
as well as practices of managing menstruation is
extremely limited in girls when they experience their
period for the first time.
Introduction continue …….
Menstrual Cycle:
Closely coordinated interaction between the
hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovaries
producing cycle changes in target tissues of the
reproductive tract →endometrium, cervix, and
vagina.
menstruation is a normal and natural part of
biological maturity.
Developmental milestone for girls, the same way wet
dreams are for boys.
Introduction continue …….
Menstrual Cycle
Some girls have their first period as early as
eight or nine years of age
Mean Mean age menarche: 12.8years mean
age of menopause: 51 years
Some menstruate every 28 days, while others
have longer cycles (35 days) or shorter cycles
(21 days).
Usually last from 2-7 days
Menstruation Cycle
Common symptoms that occur before or at
the onset of menstruation
• General weakness of the body; body feels
heavy
• Dizziness, nausea, cramps/lower abdominal
pain
• Headache, enlarged and painful breasts, fever
• Backache, irritability, depression,
tiredness ,pimples, etc
Evidences and menstruation related social
taboo
The National Baseline Report (from six regions of
Ethiopia) finds that:
Over half of adolescent girls never talk or
discuss menstruation with another person
(63%).
Only less than one forth(22%) of women said
they talked with their daughter before she
started menstruating
Nearly three forth (69.1%) of girls say they
don’t discuss menstruation because of shame
Evidences and menstruation …..
Evidences and menstruation …..
• One study revealed only one third of the girls used
sanitary napkins and more than half absent from
school during their menstruation period.
• Similarly, in another study about 39.5% of the
participants missed classes and only 40.8% of them
used to change sanitary materials satisfactorily.
Evidences and menstruation …..
• In Addis Ababa, 70% had good knowledge about
menstruation and its hygiene and majority 60% of
students used sanitary napkins and the rest 39% used
homemade cloth.
It was better among private school girls than
the government.
• In rural areas, if she saw period without getting
married, the society suspect her for having sex before
marriage
• If a menstruating female goes around pond, it may
dry.
Menstrual hygiene
Important because it:
• prevents infection
• prevents body odor
• enables women to remain healthy
• enables women to feel comfortable, confident
stay fresh all day
Minimizing poor menstrual hygiene
• Hygiene education and promotion for
women/girls
• Education of young girls(primary and post
primary)
• Proper washing of vulva and hands with soap
and water
Reproductive Health and Menstrual Hygiene
o Hygiene-related practices of women and adolescent girls
during menstruation are of considerable importance, as it may
increase vulnerability to Reproductive Tract Infections
(RTI’s).
Practice Health Risk
Insertion of unclean Bacteria may cause local infections or travel up the vagina and enter
sanitary pads / the uterine cavity.
materials
Changing pads Wet pads can cause skin irritation
Wiping from back Makes the introduction of bacteria from the bowel into the
vagina (or urethra) more likely.
Lack of hand- Can facilitate the spread of infections such as Hepatitis B or
washing after Thrush8.
changing a sanitary
towel
Unsafe disposal of Risk of infecting others, especially with Hepatitis B
used sanitary
materials
Infections related to the reproductive tract
Some of the common infections at risk during
mensuration:
Bacterial vaginosis Hepatitis B
Vulvovaginal HIV
candidiasis (thrush)
Chlamydia Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Trichomonas Pelvic inflammatory disease
vaginalis (PID)
Gonorrhoea Vaginitis
Syphilis
Group Work
[Link] and list out poor menstrual practices
and effects of poor MH practices?
2. Discuss and list out safe menstrual practices?
Poor menstrual practices
• Use of toilet tissue.
• Use of unhygienic and inappropriate products
like (leaf, paper )
• Drying sanitary cloths inside dark corners of
the house.
• Washing of used sanitary cloth in streams or
rivers.
• Use of dirty/unclean underwear/panties.
Safe menstrual practices
Change sanitary material at least three times a
day or when soaked.
Change underwear/panties daily.
Wash hands with soap before and after
changing sanitary pad/cloth
Use hot water and salt to wash sanitary cloth
and dry them under sun. Depending on the
materials type cold water is also can be used
Use sanitary pad or clean cotton
materials/cloth that have been preserved
specifically for menstruation every month
THANK YOU
