1. will she know?How
Exploring how mothers, teachers and others support Kenyan schoolgirls
in their menstrual hygiene management
Research project conducted by: K.N. van de Merwe - van der Kooij
Commissioned by: AMREF Health Africa
Abstract
Background: The difficulties of managing menstruation in school lead to absenteeism and lower
performance of schoolgirls in Kenya. Mothers and other adults have a significant influence on the
girls’ menstrual hygiene management. This research project qualitatively explores how mothers and
other adults support school girls in their menstrual hygiene management, what challenges they face
in doing so, and what solutions they find suitable to solve those challenges, in order to consider the
potential of a community based programme to improve menstrual hygiene management amongst
schoolgirls.
Methods and Findings: The research was conducted in Kitui county in rural eastern Kenya. Interviews
with seven mothers/guardians, eight teachers, five health workers, two district education officers
and one religious leader were conducted and analysed thematically. Multiple stakeholders try to
support the girls to cope with their menstruation, mostly by providing information and providing
them with sanitary pads. The main challenges in giving support are limited access to sanitary pads,
secrecy surrounding the topic hindering communication, and limited knowledge of pupils and
parents of menstruation and menstrual hygiene management. Motherless girls, girls with poor and
uneducated parents and girls who are about to menstruate for the first time are most at risk of
receiving inadequate support.
Conclusions: It is recommended to develop a locally produced alternative sanitary wear, to design a
participatory school based programme that involves all teachers and parents and to partner different
influential stakeholders to raise awareness about the needs of the girls amongst the community
collectively.