Demystifying Misconceptions and Myths Surrounding Menstruation among Secondary School Girls in Kano State, Nigeria

Main Article Content

Stella Ifeoma Okafor-Terver
Montakarn Chuemchit

Abstract

Background:


Understanding menstrual health and hygiene is essential for the well-being of adolescent girls, yet misconceptions persist among secondary school students.


Methods:


A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 408 participants from four schools in Kano State, using random sampling to assess menstrual misconceptions. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including ANOVA.


Results:


The overall mean score of 2.35 indicates a high prevalence of myths and misconceptions about menstruation among participants. However, differences in misconceptions across schools were not significant (F = 2.460706, F critical = 2.866266, p = 0.078353).


Conclusion:


Educating students through awareness campaigns is crucial to dispel these myths, reduce stigma, and foster a better understanding of menstruation. Implementing comprehensive educational programs can empower young girls to manage their menstrual health confidently.

Article Details

How to Cite
Demystifying Misconceptions and Myths Surrounding Menstruation among Secondary School Girls in Kano State, Nigeria. (2025). International Journal of Nursing Education, 17(3), 50-57. https://doi.org/10.37506/cypk1n06
Section
Original Article
Author Biographies

Stella Ifeoma Okafor-Terver, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand

College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand

Montakarn Chuemchit, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand

Excellence Centre for Health and Social Sciences and Addition Research, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand

How to Cite

Demystifying Misconceptions and Myths Surrounding Menstruation among Secondary School Girls in Kano State, Nigeria. (2025). International Journal of Nursing Education, 17(3), 50-57. https://doi.org/10.37506/cypk1n06

References

Fennie K, Moletsane R, Padmanabhanunni A. “We do not talk about such things”: Deconstructing menstrual stigma and the implications for girls’ education in rural South Africa. Health Education Journal. 2022;81(5):594–605.

Khorsand A, Aslani F, Mahmoodi H, Bahrami-Vazir E, Ahmadi R. Global prevalence of menstrual disorders and their associated factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Women's Health. 2023;23(1):36.

Salami K, Mettu A, Azeez A. Menstrual Hygiene Management: Beliefs, Taboos and Practices among Adolescent Girls in Nigeria. African Health Sciences. 2019;19(3):2889–97.

Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria. Nigeria Family Planning Blueprint (Scale-Up Plan) 2020–2024. Abuja: FMOH; 2020.

World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa. Adolescent Health: Regional Status Report 2023. Brazzaville: WHO Regional Office for Africa; 2023.

Okafor-Terver SI, Chuemchit M. Understanding Menstrual Hygiene Management and Socio-Cultural Influences among Adolescent Girls in Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Development. 2017;15(3):41–54.

Gbadegesin A, Olalere AA. Menstrual Hygiene Practices and its Socio-Cultural Constraints among Women of Reproductive Age in Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health. 2022;26(4):23–31.

Mohamed F, Mutambara J, Nthangeni G, Mabetha D, Magasana V. Menstrual hygiene management and school absenteeism among adolescents in Ghana and Nigeria: evidence from a multicountry study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018;15(11):2563.

Olayinka O. The Impact of Harmful Traditional Practices on Women's Rights in Nigeria: A Legal Perspective. African Human Rights Law Journal. 2022;22(2):501–22.

Amzat J. Child Marriage in Nigeria: Socio-Legal Implications, Cultural Perspectives, and Human Rights Concerns. International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family. 2019;33(2):197–214.

Nwonu C, Oyakhiromen E. Islam and the Protection of the Child against Early Marriage: Myth or Reality? Journal of Law and Religion. 2018;33(3):442–60.

Chandra-Mouli V, Patel SV. Mapping the knowledge and understanding of menarche, menstrual hygiene, and menstrual health among adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries. Reproductive Health. 2017;14(1):30.

Tshomo T. Menstrual hygiene management knowledge, attitudes and practices among adolescent girls in Bhutan. Asian Journal of Research in Nursing and Health. 2021;4(1):18–27.

Yamane, T. (1973). Statistics: An Introductory Analysis (3rd ed.). Harper and Row.

Bourley’s Proportional Allocation Formula (1964)

Turner, R. C., & Carlson, L. A. (2003). Indexes of Item-Objective Congruence for Multidimensional Items. International Journal of Testing, 3(2), 163–171.

Black G, Ard D, Smith J, Schibik S (2010) The impact of the Weibull distribution on the performanceof the single-factor ANOVA model. Int J Ind Eng Comput 1(2):185–198

Sommer M, Hirsch JS, Nathanson C, Parker RG. Comfortably, Safely, and Without Shame: Defining Menstrual Hygiene Management as a Public Health Issue. American Journal of Public Health. 2015;105(7):1302–11.

Bobel C, Winkler IT, Fahs B, Hasson KA, Kissling EA, Roberts TA, editors. The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan; 2020.

Wibowo A, Putri HAPS, Kartini Y, Aprilia P. The influence of cultural practices on early marriage: A study in Indonesian adolescent girls. BMC Women's Health. 2021;21(1):311.

Edet OB, Etim EM, Bassey OE. Taboos and Myths Regarding Menstruation among Adolescents in Calabar, South-South Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science. 2021;5(4):302–7.