Socio-demographic factors of the study participants
Among 423 of the study participants, 409 of them have provided valuable information with a response rate of 96.7%. The mean age of the study participants was 16.4 years (ranged from 14– 20 years) with SD of ± 1.5 years. Regarding the age of the study participants, more than half of them 211(51.6%) was within the range of 16-17 years. (table 1).
Knowledge on menstrual hygiene
Out of 409 study participants, 365(89.2%) of them had good knowledge about menstruation and its hygiene. About 361(88.3%) of the participants reported that poor hygiene during menstruation may cause diseases and 298(72.9%) of them reported that having good hygiene during menstruation may reduce diseases concurrence due to poor hygiene during menstruation (table 2).
Practice on menstrual hygiene
From the total study participants, 200(48.9%) of them had good menstruation hygiene practice. Nearly all of the respondents 356(87%) of them had reported that the type of absorbent that they have been used during menstruation was sanitary pad (table 3).
Attitude on menstrual hygiene
Among 409 study participants, 196(47.9%) of them had good attitude about menstrual hygiene. Among the total respondents, 354(86.6%) of them had reported that menstruation is good for health( table 4).
Factors associated with knowledge on menstrual hygiene
There were three explanatory variables in a bivariate analysis which had p<0.2: grade level, fathers’ level of occupation, and practice of the participants.
In the multivariable analysis: students grade level and practice of the students were statistically associated with menstrual hygiene knowledge (p<0.05) via backward stepwise regression.
Girls who were grade 10 student’s had 3.96 times more likely to have good knowledge as compared to girls who were grade 9 students [AOR=3.96, 95%CI =2 -7.8].
Students who had good menstrual practice had 2.52 times more likely to have good knowledge on menstrual hygiene as compared to those who had poor practice on menstrual hygiene (AOR=2.52, 95% =CI (1.26-5) (table 3)
Factors associated with practice on menstrual hygiene
There were three explanatory variables in a bivariate analysis which had p-<0.2: grade level, mother’s level of education, and knowledge participants.
In the multivariable analysis: students grade level, higher level of maternal education and knowledge of the students were significantly associated (p<0.05) using backward stepwise regression
Girls who had good knowledge on menstrual hygiene have 3.74 more likely good practices on menstrual hygiene as compared to Girls who had poor knowledge on menstrual hygiene (AOR=3.74,95% CI(1.18-7.7).
Respondents whose mothers level of education is secondary and above had 1.86 more likely good practice as compared with those whose mothers level of education is elementary and no formal education(AOR=1.86,95%CI(1.18-2.9)
Being a grade 10 students had 2.3 more likely had good practice on menstrual hygiene as compared to grade 9 students(AOR =2.3, 95%CI(1.48-3.56)(table 3).
Factors associated with attitude on menstrual hygiene
There were two explanatory variables in the bivariate analysis which had p-<0.2: grade level, and age of the participants.
In the multivariable analysis: students grade level and age of the students were statistically associated (p<0.05) through backward stepwise regression
Grade 10 respondents 1.9 more likely good attitude on menstrual hygiene as compared with grade 9 respondents (AOR=1.9, 95% CI (1.2-2.8).
Students whose age was >=18 had 1.67 more likely good attitude on menstrual hygiene as compared with 13-14 and 16-17 age group respondents(AOR=1.67(1.09-2.55) (table 3).