Abdulqadir, Oyebisi Folaranmi,

Dept.of Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE),

Kwara State College of Education. Oro and  

Sanusi Arimiyau Akanji,

Dept. of Health Promotion & Environmental Health Education,

University of Ilorin, Ilorin.

Abstract

Menstrual waste management is a critical public health and environmental issue, especially in developing countries where access to adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities is limited. Female adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of improper menstrual waste disposal due to limited access to private and safe toilets and menstrual products. Health education interventions can positively influence knowledge of menstrual hygiene and waste disposal among female adolescents, but more research is needed on the effectiveness of various types of interventions in this context. This study examined the impact of a health education intervention on menstrual waste disposal knowledge among female adolescents in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group design was employed, with 170 respondents—85 in the control group and 85 in the experimental group—selected from two female-only secondary schools in Ilorin. The experimental group received six weeks of menstrual hygiene health education, while the control group received placebo education on first aid and safety. Pre- and post-tests were administered to both groups to assess changes in their knowledge of menstrual waste disposal methods. The findings from the study shows that in the pretest, burning menstrual waste had the highest mean score for both the experimental (mean: 3.459) and control (mean: 3.341) groups, while disposing of waste into a flowing river received the lowest scores (experimental: mean 2.059; control: mean 1.706) while in the posttest, the experimental group preferred disposing of cotton wool in a water closet (mean: 3.824, ranked 1st), whereas the control group ranked this method 5th (mean: 2.212). Burning menstrual waste remained the top choice for the control group (mean: 3.341, ranked 1st), but it dropped to 3rd place in the experimental group (mean: 2.718). Disposing into a flowing river remained the least preferred method in both groups. In conclusion, while burning menstrual waste was initially preferred in both groups, posttest results revealed a shift in the experimental group towards disposing of cotton wool in a water closet, reflecting improved knowledge of more hygienic practices. It is recommended that educational workshops be conducted, community awareness campaigns launched, sanitation facilities improved, further research pursued, and feedback mechanisms established to enhance knowledge and practices related to menstrual waste disposal.