MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
Hygiene is a set of practices performed in order to preserve once health or to maintain a healthy life and prevent diseases. Types of hygiene include;
·
personal hygiene,
·
food hygiene,
·
oral hygiene,
·
occupational hygiene,
·
Menstrual
hygiene e.t.c.
Menstruation is a normal biological process and a
very important sign of reproductive health; it is marked by the monthly release
of blood from the female’s body through the vagina.
Menstrual hygiene can be defined as the hygienic
practices to be carried out during menstruation. Effective menstrual hygiene is
vital to the health, well being, empowerment, mobility and productivity of
women and girls. Poor menstrual hygiene practices may cause stigma, ill health,
it can also lead to school absenteeism and high rate of school drop outs. Some
poor menstrual hygiene practices that should be stopped include:
·
Wearing a single menstrual pad or
sanitary cloth for a whole day
·
Wearing a single pant for days without
washing
·
Washing the vagina with soap
·
Using unhygienic materials such as mud
or leaves to manage menstrual flow
·
e.t.c
The general hygienic measures
include:
·
Take a bath or shower regularly at least
twice in a day
·
Use clean undergarments and change them
regularly
·
Wash the genitals with clean water after
using the toilet
·
Do not wash the vagina with soap
·
Keep the pubic area clean and dry to
prevent rashes
·
Do not douche or pour water into the
vagina
·
Do not deep your finger into your vagina
and do not allow anybody to do so
·
Take something warm (warm water) to
allow easy flow of blood
·
You can also engage in minor exercise
·
Wash your pubic area fro vagina to anus,
do not wash in opposite direction to prevent infection
·
Discard used sanitary materials
properly.
·
Ensure that reusable sanitary materials dries
properly before reuse
·
Do not use a single sanitary pad for a
whole day, etc
To manage menstruation hygienically and with
dignity, it is essential that women and girls have access to good water and
sanitation, they need somewhere private to change sanitary cloths or pads,
clean water and soap for washing their hands, bodies, and reusable materials,
they also need facilities for safe disposal of used materials and a clean place
to dry the reusable.
This calls for the need for both men and women to
have a greater awareness of good menstrual hygiene practices.
Sulaiman
khadijah
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