Relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice of menstrual hygiene among female students in colleges of education in North-central geopolitical zone

Abstract

The study investigated the Relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice of menstrual hygiene among fe male students in Colleges of Education in North-Central geopolitical zone. Using correlation and descriptive survey research design method. Population of this study consists of 16,381 female NCE students’ across all levels in COE in six states including FCT Abuja, North-Central Zone, Nigeria. Four state were used for the study. Eighty (80) partici pants were randomly selected from two Federal and two State COE (based on school type, State & Federal COEs). The instrument used for data collection from the respondents was self-designed questionnaire, this was rated on 4 points Likert scale. To determine the reliability of menstrual questionnaire, a pilot test was carried out on a 10 group of respondent that are drawn from Federal Capital Territory COE Zuba, Abuja. Ten copies of questionnaire were administered on COE students and were retrieved back for analysis using Crombach Alpha for pilot study analysis. The Reliability coefficient 0.75 was obtained. Results; there was no significant difference in influence of knowledge and attitude of menstrual hygiene among female students in COE North-Central Zone, Nigeria. Converse ly, there was significant difference in influence of knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene. Conclusion; There is relationship positive between knowledge and attitude towards menstrual hygiene among COE students in North Central Nigeria. Recommendations; Health professionals, in collaboration with the school nurses, should foster menstrual hygiene, by organizing health talks for the COE female students, Also health counsellors of the schools should design periodic enlightenment programmes, for the COE female students.