ABSTACT

Background: It is documented that use of sanitary pads is higher in urban area and the choice of sanitary protection is a personal decision. Good hygienic practices are essential during

menstruation and girls need access to clean, absorbent sanitary products and reliable information for good health. The most important reference groups in adolescence are the parents and peers, and it is well recognized that peers become increasingly important during this period.

Objectives: To assess the influence of peers on the use of pads, the type of pads used and the hygienic habits of adolescents during their periods.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted from November – December 2013 on 150 school going adolescent girls in Ishaka Bushenyi municipality. A self administered standardized pretested questionnaire was used in the study.

Results: 97.9% of the girls were aware of menstruation and mother was the major source of information. 95.9% of the girls had also heard about sanitary pads from majorly their mothers

and majority – 97.2% were actually using sanitary pads, commonly influenced by their peers and mothers. As a result of their experience with pads, 79.6% had encouraged one of their peers to use sanitary pads and. The most commonly used sanitary pad was Always (51.1%) of the girls. 68.8% reported using 3-4 sanitary pads in a single day to avoid smelling and the pit latrine was the commonest disposal place for sanitary pads.

Conclusion: As much as mother was the major source of information for the girls, peers affected the handling of pads almost equally with mother. The mothers and girls thus need to be equipped with accurate and reliable information so that adolescents practice safe menstrual habits.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ....................................................................... iv

DEDICATION ..................................................................... v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................... vi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ..................................................................... vii

ABSTACT ................................................................... viii

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................. 1

1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ...................................................................... 1

1.1 Introduction ...................................................................... 1

1.2 Background information of the Study Area ...................................................................... 9

1.3 Problem statement ..................................................................... 10

1.4 Justification ..................................................................... 11

1.5 Purpose of study ...................................................................... 12

1.6 Significance of study................................................................. 12

1.7 OBJECTIVES ....................................................................... 13

CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................... 14

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................... 14

2.1 Introduction ....................................................................... 14

2.2 General information ...................................................................... 18

2.3 To establish the influence of peers on adolescents in the use of sanitary pads. ............. 20

2.4 To establish the effect of peers on the type of pads adolescents use .............................. 21

2.5 To assess the contribution of peers in the hygienic habits and disposal of sanitary

materials of adolescents during their periods............................................................ 25

CHAPTER THREE ...................................................................... 29

3.0 STUDY METHODOLOGY ........................................................................ 29

3.1 Study area................................................................. 29

3.2 Materials and Methods ....................................................................... 29

CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................ 33

4.0RESULT............................................................... 33

4.1 Quantitative results ....................................................................... 33

Figure 1: Age ...................................................................... 33

Figure 2: Education...................................................... 34

Table 2: Ethnicity................................................. 36

iii

Table 3: With whom do you live?....................................... 37

Figure 3: Mother’s occupation ............................................................... 38

Figure 4: Ever heard about menstruation?................................ 39

Figure 5: Who told you about menstruation? ..................................................... 40

Figure 8: Ever heard about sanitary pads? ................................................. 43

Figure 9: who told you about pads? ............................................................. 44

Figure 10: Materials used during menstruation. ................................................................. 45

Figure 11: Who taught you to use sanitary pads? ......................................................................... 45

Figure 12: Ever encouraged others to use pads? ........................................................ 46

Figure 13: Who advised you to use sanitary pads? ....................................................................... 47

Figure 14: Type of pad commonly recommended ........................................................................ 48

Figure 15: Is the recommended pad in use? ........................................................... 48

Figure 17: Reason for the number of pads used .......................................................... 50

Figure 18: Hindrance to re-use ................................................................. 51

Figure 20: Comparison between advised place of disposal and place of disposal of sanitary pads.

...................................................................... 53

Figure 21: Importance of advised disposal method. ..................................................................... 53

5.0 DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATIONS ....................................... 54

5.1 Discussion .................................................. 54

5.2 Conclusion........................................................... 61

5.3 Recommendations ............................................................. 65

APPENDDIX I: QUESTIONNAIRE .......................................... 67