Safe Menstrual Hygiene Management Practices and Associated Factors among Secondary School Female Students in Northern Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

Background & aim: Many women worldwide face challenges in managing menstrual hygiene due to inadequate facilities, high costs, and misinformation, which can increase the risk of health complications. Evidence regarding safe menstrual management practices among secondary school students in northern Ethiopia remains limited. This study aimed to assess menstrual hygiene management practices and their associated factors among secondary school female students in Northern Ethiopia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among ۸۳۴ female secondary school students from April ۱ to ۳۰, ۲۰۲۲, who were selected using a multistage random sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire with close supervision by the data collectors. The data were entered into EpiData version ۳.۱ and analyzed using SPSS version ۲۶. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.Results: This study revealed that the proportion of students practicing safe menstrual management was ۴۶.۶% (۹۵% CI: ۴۳.۲–۵۰.۰). Age at menarche (AOR = ۶.۴, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۰–۱۳.۶), prior information before menarche (AOR = ۳.۰, ۹۵% CI: ۲.۲–۴.۲), having pocket money (AOR = ۲.۶, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۹–۳.۶), comfort with the school environment (AOR = ۲.۰, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۵–۲.۸), and knowledge of menstrual management (AOR = ۱.۹, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۱–۳.۱) were factors associated with safe menstrual hygiene practices.Conclusion: More than half of the participants did not practice safe menstrual hygiene management. Hence, awareness about menstrual hygiene management should be enhanced among female students to improve their safe hygiene practices.

کلیدواژه ها:

Adolescent ، School ، Menstruation ، Hygiene ، Ethiopia