Amsterdam 2015
Menu
AIDSImpact.com
Conference Details
Authors
International Committee
Plenary Speakers
Presenting Speakers
Programme
Sessions
Scientific Committee
Acknowledgements
| Abstract #2261 - Sisters unite - Women and HIV | ||||
|
Session: 43.3: Sisters unite - Women and HIV (Parallel) on Thursday @ 16.30-18.00 in C002 Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Najma Shaikh - Kheth' Impilo, South Africa |
||||
| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: Girls’ education is considered a key factor for the health and the development of a society through improving economic productivity, nutrition, reducing unplanned pregnancies, maternal & infant mortality and other sexual/reproductive risk such HIV/AIDS. In Sub-Saharan Africa, access to affordable, safe and reliable methods of dealing with menstruation for young women is a key consideration for improved health and educational outcomes. Although it is estimated that girls in South Africa(SA) miss 10% of their schooling time due to menstrual-related issues, there is a dearth of empirical information in this regard. This paper assesses the magnitude of poor access to menstrual hygiene education and sanitary pads and explores the menstrual experiences of adolescents in a rural high- school in SA. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Kheth’Impilo, a non-governmental organization identified the need for and implemented a menstrual health intervention as part of a school-based Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRH&R) program in a high HIV prevalence district. A cross-sectional anonymous survey was undertaken prior to the delivery of reusable pads and a linked educational program. Univariate and bivariate analyses were done for continuous and categorical variables using the t-test and Chi square tests to test differences. | ||||
| Results / Comments: A total of 197 female learners participated in the survey. The girls’ ages ranged from 14-26 years (mean age of 16 years, SD 1.43). Age of menstruation onset ranged from 10-17 years(µ 13.5 SD 1.4). 45.4% of the girls reported menstrual related absenteeism. The mean number of days missed was 4 days per month (range 1 -10+). Main reasons for menstrual related absenteeism included unaffordability of the pads (77.5%), pain (66%),unavailability of pads in the shops(49.4%), no place to wash and change at school(40.3%), and no place to dispose pads at school (29.6%). Forty percent of the learners reported not ever being taught about menstrual hygiene. Girls reported that menstruation affected them in their daily routine by making them stay indoors (27.5%) not being able to walk far( 40.8%) unable to do daily activities like cooking fetching water( 41.8%) avoiding being around males (39.6%) unable to play with other children 45.4% and fear of staining their clothes(40.4%). Almost half (47%) of learners reported to be on contraceptives. | ||||
| Discussion: A significant proportion of girls stayed absent from school as a result of poor access to safe, affordable, accessible and appropriate methods for dealing with menstruation. This absenteeism equated to 20% loss of total schooling time for menstrual related issues. A variety of factors conspired to influence and impact on menstrual-related absenteeism at school. This has implications on SRH&R of girls, and can undermine the quality of their education and retention through the education system. Girls who miss or -out of school are also more likely to be exposed to other risks such as intergenerational or transactional sex leading to unplanned pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and. These findings suggest that the provision of safe and affordable sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene education should be a consideration for implementing South Africa’s national Integrated School Health Plan, particularly in impoverished settings. | ||||
| Go Back | ||||