Scholarlink

Background <p>Adequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities are essential for menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and school retention among adolescent girls. Many Nigerian schools lack such infrastructure, which has been associated with menstruation-related absenteeism and compromised menstrual wellbeing among adolescent girls. This study assessed WASH facility adequacy in secondary schools in Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone and examined associations with girls’ school attendance during menstruation.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,250 female students across 25 secondary schools in Keffi, Nasarawa, and Kokona LGAs. WASH adequacy was assessed using a structured observational checklist, scoring 12 facility components (water availability, toilet conditions, privacy, lighting, handwashing facilities, and disposal systems). Student attendance during menstruation was assessed via structured questionnaire using a four-point frequency scale (always, sometimes, rarely, never), with absenteeism defined as reporting sometimes, rarely, or never attending during menstruation. Chi-square analyses with cluster-robust standard errors examined associations between WASH adequacy and menstruation-related absenteeism.</p> Results <p>WASH conditions were critically inadequate, approximately 40% of schools had functional water sources, 28% had water available during assessment, and 16% had separate girls’ toilets. Privacy features, handwashing facilities with soap, and covered disposal bins were each present in 16% of schools. No school provided private changing spaces, sanitary waste disposal systems, emergency sanitary supplies, or MHM education materials. Private schools scored marginally higher than public schools (1.2 ± 0.3 vs. 0.9 ± 0.3). Only 36.8% of students consistently attended school during menstruation. Absenteeism was strongly associated with inadequate WASH facilities (χ² = 48.3, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), with pain or cramps (32%), lack of pads (23.2%), and fear of staining (19.2%) as the most frequently reported reasons.</p> Conclusion <p>WASH facilities in Nasarawa West secondary schools are grossly inadequate and associated with menstruation-related absenteeism. Urgent interventions including improved water supply, private toilets, disposal systems, and access to menstrual materials are required to support girls’ menstrual health and educational equity.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

WASH facility adequacy and school attendance during menstruation among secondary school girls in Nasarawa West, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月28日

查看全文
  • Aishat Temitope Kasali,
  • David Ishaleku,
  • Benjamin Idoko,
  • Stephen Olaide Aremu,
  • Abdillahi Abdi Barkhadle

摘要

Background

Adequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities are essential for menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and school retention among adolescent girls. Many Nigerian schools lack such infrastructure, which has been associated with menstruation-related absenteeism and compromised menstrual wellbeing among adolescent girls. This study assessed WASH facility adequacy in secondary schools in Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone and examined associations with girls’ school attendance during menstruation.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,250 female students across 25 secondary schools in Keffi, Nasarawa, and Kokona LGAs. WASH adequacy was assessed using a structured observational checklist, scoring 12 facility components (water availability, toilet conditions, privacy, lighting, handwashing facilities, and disposal systems). Student attendance during menstruation was assessed via structured questionnaire using a four-point frequency scale (always, sometimes, rarely, never), with absenteeism defined as reporting sometimes, rarely, or never attending during menstruation. Chi-square analyses with cluster-robust standard errors examined associations between WASH adequacy and menstruation-related absenteeism.

Results

WASH conditions were critically inadequate, approximately 40% of schools had functional water sources, 28% had water available during assessment, and 16% had separate girls’ toilets. Privacy features, handwashing facilities with soap, and covered disposal bins were each present in 16% of schools. No school provided private changing spaces, sanitary waste disposal systems, emergency sanitary supplies, or MHM education materials. Private schools scored marginally higher than public schools (1.2 ± 0.3 vs. 0.9 ± 0.3). Only 36.8% of students consistently attended school during menstruation. Absenteeism was strongly associated with inadequate WASH facilities (χ² = 48.3, p < 0.001), with pain or cramps (32%), lack of pads (23.2%), and fear of staining (19.2%) as the most frequently reported reasons.

Conclusion

WASH facilities in Nasarawa West secondary schools are grossly inadequate and associated with menstruation-related absenteeism. Urgent interventions including improved water supply, private toilets, disposal systems, and access to menstrual materials are required to support girls’ menstrual health and educational equity.