SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN PROMOTING KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RIVERS-EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT, RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study investigated school-based health education programs in promoting knowledge, attitude and practice of menstrual hygiene among female students in public secondary schools in Rivers-East Senatorial District, Rivers State. The study adopted descriptive research design. The study was guided by three research questions. The population of the study comprised 13,000 female students in public secondary schools. The sample size used for the study was 388 female students adopted through Taro Yamane Scientific Method. Simple random sampling technique was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire, titled: “School-Based Health Education Programs and Promoting of Menstrual Hygiene Questionnaire (SHEPPMHQ)”. The reliability of the instrument was determined through test re-test reliability method which yielded a reliability index of r=0.77. Mean and Standard deviation were used to answer the research. The study revealed that to a high extent school-based health education programs promoted knowledge , attitude and practice  of menstrual hygiene among female students in public secondary schools in Rivers-East Senatorial District, Rivers State. It was recommended among others that; teachers need to incorporate reproductive health education with focus on menstrual hygiene in the school curriculum to improve the students’ knowledge, attitude and practice of menstrual hygiene.