IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i6p3337-d769240.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of Menstrual Health and Hygiene on School Absenteeism and Drop-Out among Adolescent Girls in Rural Gambia

Author

Listed:
  • Vishna Shah

    (Environmental Health Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

  • Helen Nabwera

    (Department of Education and Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK)

  • Bakary Sonko

    (The Medical Research Council Unit the Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul P.O. Box 273, The Gambia)

  • Fatou Bajo

    (The Medical Research Council Unit the Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul P.O. Box 273, The Gambia)

  • Fatou Faal

    (The Medical Research Council Unit the Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul P.O. Box 273, The Gambia)

  • Mariama Saidykhan

    (The Medical Research Council Unit the Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul P.O. Box 273, The Gambia)

  • Yamoundaw Jallow

    (The Medical Research Council Unit the Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul P.O. Box 273, The Gambia)

  • Omar Keita

    (Regional Education Directorate Four, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mansakonko Lower River Region, Banjul P.O. Box 989, The Gambia)

  • Wolf-Peter Schmidt

    (Environmental Health Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

  • Belen Torondel

    (Environmental Health Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

Abstract

Poor knowledge and management of menstruation impacts girls’ school attendance and academic performance. This paper aims to explore how menstrual hygiene management practices and related factors influence school absenteeism and drop-out among primary and secondary school girls in rural Gambia. Mixed-method studies were conducted among students and key informants from 19 schools from July 2015–December 2017. Focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, cross-sectional surveys, menstrual diaries, and school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facility observations were used. Key findings from the interviews were that menstrual pain, cultural beliefs, fear of peers knowing menstrual status, and poor school WASH facilities led to school absenteeism, however, they had no impact on school drop-out. Of the 561 girls surveyed, 27% reported missing at least one school day per month due to menses. Missing school during the most recent menstrual period was strongly associated with menstrual pain (extreme pain adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 16.8 (95% CI: 7.29–38.74)), as was having at least one symptom suggestive of urinary tract infection (AOR = 1.71 (95% CI: 1.16–2.52)) or reproductive tract infection (AOR = 1.99 (95% CI: 1.34–2.94)). Clean toilets (AOR = 0.44 (95% CI: 0.26–75)), being happy using school latrines while menstruating (AOR = 0.59 (95% CI: 0.37–0.93)), and soap availability (AOR = 0.46 (95% CI: 0.3–0.73)) were associated with reduced odds of school absenteeism. This study suggests menstrual pain, school WASH facilities, urogenital infections, and cultural beliefs affected school attendance among menstruating girls in rural Gambia.

Suggested Citation

  • Vishna Shah & Helen Nabwera & Bakary Sonko & Fatou Bajo & Fatou Faal & Mariama Saidykhan & Yamoundaw Jallow & Omar Keita & Wolf-Peter Schmidt & Belen Torondel, 2022. "Effects of Menstrual Health and Hygiene on School Absenteeism and Drop-Out among Adolescent Girls in Rural Gambia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-23, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3337-:d:769240
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/6/3337/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/6/3337/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marni Sommer & Bethany A Caruso & Murat Sahin & Teresa Calderon & Sue Cavill & Therese Mahon & Penelope A Phillips-Howard, 2016. "A Time for Global Action: Addressing Girls’ Menstrual Hygiene Management Needs in Schools," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-9, February.
    2. repec:pru:wpaper:39 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Colin Sumpter & Belen Torondel, 2013. "A Systematic Review of the Health and Social Effects of Menstrual Hygiene Management," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Emily Oster & Rebecca Thornton, 2011. "Menstruation, Sanitary Products, and School Attendance: Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 3(1), pages 91-100, January.
    5. United Nations, 2016. "The Sustainable Development Goals 2016," Working Papers id:11456, eSocialSciences.
    6. Julie Hennegan & Paul Montgomery, 2016. "Do Menstrual Hygiene Management Interventions Improve Education and Psychosocial Outcomes for Women and Girls in Low and Middle Income Countries? A Systematic Review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, February.
    7. Benjamin Saunders & Julius Sim & Tom Kingstone & Shula Baker & Jackie Waterfield & Bernadette Bartlam & Heather Burroughs & Clare Jinks, 2018. "Saturation in qualitative research: exploring its conceptualization and operationalization," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 1893-1907, July.
    8. Deon Filmer & Lant Pritchett, 2001. "Estimating Wealth Effects Without Expenditure Data—Or Tears: An Application To Educational Enrollments In States Of India," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 38(1), pages 115-132, February.
    9. Hertz, Erica & Hebert, James R. & Landon, Joan, 1994. "Social and environmental factors and life expectancy, infant mortality, and maternal mortality rates: Results of a cross-national comparison," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 105-114, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Raghul Gandhi Venkatesan & Dhivya Karmegam & Bagavandas Mappillairaju, 2024. "Exploring determinants of school dropout across regions in India: a comprehensive meta-analysis," Journal of Computational Social Science, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 1665-1697, October.
    2. Deena Mehjabeen & Erin C. Hunter & Mehjabin Tishan Mahfuz & Moshammot Mobashara & Mahbubur Rahman & Farhana Sultana, 2022. "A Qualitative Content Analysis of Rural and Urban School Students’ Menstruation-Related Questions in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Biljana Macura & Laura Del Duca & Adriana Soto & Naomi Carrard & Louisa Gosling & Karin Hannes & James Thomas & Lewnida Sara & Marni Sommer & Hugh S. Waddington & Sarah Dickin, 2021. "PROTOCOL: What is the impact of complex WASH interventions on gender and social equality outcomes in low‐ and middle‐income countries? A mixed‐method systematic review protocol," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), June.
    2. Silvia Castro & Kristina Czura, 2021. "Social Norms and Misinformation: Experimental Evidence on Learning about Menstrual Health Management in Rural Bangladesh," CESifo Working Paper Series 9081, CESifo.
    3. Paul Montgomery & Julie Hennegan & Catherine Dolan & Maryalice Wu & Laurel Steinfield & Linda Scott, 2016. "Menstruation and the Cycle of Poverty: A Cluster Quasi-Randomised Control Trial of Sanitary Pad and Puberty Education Provision in Uganda," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(12), pages 1-26, December.
    4. Castro, Silvia & Czura, Kristina, 2021. "Social Norms and Information in Menstrual Health Management," VfS Annual Conference 2021 (Virtual Conference): Climate Economics 242423, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    5. Elizabeth Kemigisha & Masna Rai & Wendo Mlahagwa & Viola N. Nyakato & Olena Ivanova, 2020. "A Qualitative Study Exploring Menstruation Experiences and Practices among Adolescent Girls Living in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-11, September.
    6. Stephanie Psaki & Nicole Haberland & Barbara Mensch & Lauren Woyczynski & Erica Chuang, 2022. "Policies and interventions to remove gender‐related barriers to girls' school participation and learning in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review of the evidence," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(1), March.
    7. Yasmin Mohamed & Kelly Durrant & Chelsea Huggett & Jessica Davis & Alison Macintyre & Seta Menu & Joyce Namba Wilson & Mary Ramosaea & Michael Sami & Dani J Barrington & Donna McSkimming & Lisa Natoli, 2018. "A qualitative exploration of menstruation-related restrictive practices in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, December.
    8. Laura Rossouw & Hana Ross, 2021. "Understanding Period Poverty: Socio-Economic Inequalities in Menstrual Hygiene Management in Eight Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-14, March.
    9. Krenz, Astrid & Strulik, Holger, 2019. "Menstruation hygiene management and work attendance in a developing country," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 364, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    10. Silvia Castro & Clarissa Mang, 2023. "Breaking the Silence: Group Discussions, and the Adoption of Welfare-Improving Technologies," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 474, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    11. Kumar, Rahul & Maity, Bipasha, 2022. "Cultural norms and women’s health: Implications of the practice of menstrual restrictions in Nepal," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    12. Kristina Czura & Andreas Menzel & Martina Miotto, 2019. "Menstrual Health, Worker Productivity and Well-being among Female Bangladeshi Garment Workers," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp649, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    13. Deena Mehjabeen & Erin C. Hunter & Mehjabin Tishan Mahfuz & Moshammot Mobashara & Mahbubur Rahman & Farhana Sultana, 2022. "A Qualitative Content Analysis of Rural and Urban School Students’ Menstruation-Related Questions in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    14. Jonas Lind & Tove Malmqvist & Josefin Wangel, 2019. "Key Considerations When Designing Certification Systems for Urban Sustainability and Implications for The Swedish Post-Construction System Citylab," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, May.
    15. Ernestina Coast & Samantha R. Lattof & Joe Strong, 2019. "Puberty and menstruation knowledge among young adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(2), pages 293-304, March.
    16. Rahul Kumar & Bipasha Maity, 2020. "Menstrual Restrictions and Women's Health in Nepal," Working Papers 45, Ashoka University, Department of Economics.
    17. Abramovsky, Laura & Augsburg, Britta & Lührmann, Melanie & Oteiza, Francisco & Rud, Juan Pablo, 2023. "Community matters: Heterogeneous impacts of a sanitation intervention," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    18. Krenz, Astrid & Strulik, Holger, 2021. "The impact of menstruation hygiene management on work absenteeism of women in Burkina Faso," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    19. Julie Hennegan & Paul Montgomery, 2016. "Do Menstrual Hygiene Management Interventions Improve Education and Psychosocial Outcomes for Women and Girls in Low and Middle Income Countries? A Systematic Review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, February.
    20. Mang, Clarissa & Castro, Silvia, 2023. "Breaking the Silence," VfS Annual Conference 2023 (Regensburg): Growth and the "sociale Frage" 277639, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3337-:d:769240. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.