The perceptions of female youth regarding menstruation hygiene management in Kameeldrift, Tshwane

Abstract

Menstruation hygiene management (MHM) is a multi-faceted phenomenon that plays a pivotal role in the lives of female youth. Female youth experience a lot of challenges in relation to menstruation hygiene management. Menstruation hygiene management needs the availability and access to clean water and soap. When a woman is undergoing a menstrual period, it is essential that she receives privacy to do so. The goal of the study is to explore and describe the perceptions of female youth regarding menstruation hygiene management. The study utilized a qualitative research approach since it sought to undertake an exploration and description of the perceptions of female youth regarding menstruation hygiene management from the view of the participants. Applied research was the most appropriate type of research for this study. The study was conducted from phenomenology research design, more specifically the transcendental research design. The population for the study were all female youth from the age of 18-35 residing in Kameeldrift, Tshwane, who are experiencing menstruation. The researcher drew a sample, using non-probability sampling approach, more specifically snowballing sampling. The researcher used interviews as a data collection method. Specifically, one-on-one interviews using an interview guide. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse data generated by this study. To ensure that data quality was not compromised, the researcher made use of data verification constructs. The findings highlight the participants’ knowledge about reproductive health; menstruation experience and challenges; menstruation hygiene management and challenges; resources and limitations; the need for social work intervention; proposed recommendations for addressing the MHM challenges. The conclusion is that female youth are less prepared at the onset of menstruation and this make them experience psychosocial and emotional challenges during menstruation. However, female youth are resilient, finding alternative ways of addressing the MHM challenges. The recommendation is that social workers should devise programmes aimed at empowering young girls about menstruation hygiene management and that the educational system should be transformed to deliberately and adequately include issues of MHM in the school curriculum, which should be taught right from primary school age.