Assessment of the Knowledge and Practice of Menstrual Hygiene Among Students in Faculty of Health Science in Evangel University, Akaeze Ebonyi State.

ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene amongst health science students in Evangel University, Akaeze, Ebonyi State. The study was cross sectional descriptive survey which adopted quantitative research method. The sample size selected for this study was 130nurses. A structured questionnaire that has been tested for validity and reliability was the main instrument employed and was administered to ninety three nursing students. Results showed that majority of the respondents (40%) are between the ages of 15 to 18 years, and vast majority of the respondents (75.8%) are single while (24.2%) of them are married. Findings from this present study also revealed that majority (59%) of the students are Igbo students, (33%) of the respondents are year 1 students, majority (43%) of them belong to the nursing science department and more than half (56%) of the respondents experienced their first menstrual cycle at age 13. The study further revealed that (87.3%) of the respondents know the duration of their menstrual cycle. Then, three-quarter (75%) acknowledged that they used sanitary pad as an absorbent during menstruation, (28.3%) of the respondents perceived shortage of water in the hostels and around the campus premises as a problem they face during menstruation. About a fifth of the respondents (19.9%) perceived lack of access to privacy for change of absorbent materials as a barrier to proper menstrual hygiene. The study concluded that there's no significant relationship between the level of knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene among students in the faculty of health sciences of Evangel University and their perceived barriers to proper menstrual hygiene during menstruation. The study recommended that an extensive and intensive social awareness should be carried out so as to create a sense of awareness and to bring about attitude change regarding menstrual hygiene.