An Analysis of Mass Media Responsibility towards the Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene Practices among Adolescent Girls in Rural Communities of Bwari Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Menstrual hygiene is a critical health issue affecting over 1.8 billion of the girls who menstruate each month across globe and at least 37 million of them in Nigeria are confronted with different challenges that affect their effective menstrual hygiene management. Objective: This study investigated mass media responsibility towards the promotion of menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in rural communities of Bwari Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria. Methodology: The study adopted descriptive survey research design with the questionnaire used as the research instrument for data collection. The population of the study comprised the adolescent girls of rural communities of Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria which were estimated to be 291, 071. The sample size of the study was 384. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings: Radio followed by the television were the mass media channels adolescent girls were more exposed to for information on menstrual hygiene practices as compared with the magazine and newspaper that were the least channels for the purpose. It further revealed that mass media have high level of positive influence on the menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls in rural communities but there was low level of adoption of such practices among the girls. Conclusion: The conclusion was the mass media have high level of positive influence on the menstrual hygiene attitude of the adolescent girls but the level of involvement that guarantees desired success in the knowledge of and or adoption of sanitary menstrual hygiene practices among the adolescent girls is rather insufficient. Recommendations: Prioritizing radio and television and increase in time, space and frequency in programmes on menstrual hygiene practices are some of the recommendations made in the study for achieving more success in menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls and women.