Menstrual Hygiene Practices Amongst Female Undergraduates of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State

One of the mainstays of preventive medicine and health promotion is the practice of good personal hygiene. This study assessed menstrual hygiene practices and the factors influencing these practices among female undergraduate students at Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria. The objectives were to establish the socio-demographic characteristics of the female students, evaluate their knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices, examine their actual menstrual hygiene practices, and identify the factors affecting these practices. The study employed a mixed-methods design, comprising both quantitative and qualitative phase. Adopting the Slovin’s formula, the sample size for the quantitative phase of the study was determined to be 290 participants. The sample size for the qualitative phase was put at 12 – 18 participants depending on when data saturation sets in. Sample selection for the quantitative phase employed systematic sampling technique, while participants for the qualitative study were selected purposively using the maximum variation sampling. Data collection was done with the aid of two instruments; a validated structured self-administered questionnaire that has been used in previous studies and an in-depth interview guide. Quantitative data collected were analysed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 26) using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The qualitative data were analysed using content and thematic analysis. Results showed that the majority (75.3%) of female undergraduates were between 19 and 25 years of age, and most (71.9%) experienced menarche between the ages of 11 and 13. A significant proportion (69%) possessed good knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene, while only 4% displayed poor knowledge. Regarding menstrual hygiene practices, the majority (89.7%) reported using disposable sanitary pads during their periods, 59.3% reported that they bath twice when having menstrual flow, and 97.2% paid close attention to cleaning their genitalia during their menstrual period. The study identified availability of suitable toilet facilities in hostels, level of knowledge, access to appropriate waste disposal systems, accessibility and affordability of sanitary products, financial status, and easy access to toilets on campus, as factors influencing menstrual hygiene practices among the population. The qualitative results aptly buttressed the quantitative findings. The study concluded while the subject of menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices among the study group has been generally good, addressing the factors identified as influencing menstrual hygiene in the university community will go a long way in enhancing not only good menstrual hygiene practices but the quality of life of female undergraduates.