'The girl with her period is the one to hang her head' Reflections on menstrual management among schoolgirls in rural Kenya

• DOI: 10.1186/1472-698x-11-7
• Publication Date: 2011-06-17T14:55:32Z
• Authors: Shannon A McMahon; Peter J Winch; Bethany A Caruso; Alfredo F Obure; Emily A Ogutu; Imelda A Ochari; Richard D Rheingans
• Keywords: Girl; Menstruation; Kenya; Attendance; Shame

The onset of menstruation is a landmark event in the life young woman. Yet complications and challenges that can accompany such an have been understudied, specifically resource-poor settings. As interventions aim to improve female attendance schools, it important explore how perceived navigated by girls school setting. This research conveys rural Kenyan schoolgirls' perceptions practices related menstruationData were collected at six schools Nyanza Province Western Kenya. Using focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, field notes from observations, researchers information 48 primary schoolgirls nine teachers. Systematic analysis began with reading transcripts debriefing notes, followed manual coding narratives.Focus discussions became opportunities for share thoughts on menstruation, instruct one another management advise coping mechanisms. Girls expressed fear, shame, distraction confusion as feelings associated menstruation. These are largely linked sense embarrassment, concerns about being stigmatized fellow students and, teachers explained, perception signals advent girl's sexual status. Among many methods managing their periods, most frequently said they folded, bunched up or sewed cloth, including cloth shirts dresses, scraps old strips blanket. Cloth was reported leak cause chafing, which made difficult particularly day progressed. Attitudes toward arranged into personal, environmental behavioural factors.Further menstrual options practical, sustainable culturally acceptable must be conducted inform future programs policies empower transition womanhood. Stakeholders working within this similar contexts consider systematic mechanisms explain what manage it. Providing sanitary supplies guiding create serve critical components interventions.