Influence of Menstrual Hygiene and Sanitation on Girls Participation in Primary School Education in West Pokot County, Kenya: Head teachers Opinion

Abstract

The attainment of education for all objectives ensures that girls participate in education across the academic year even during their menstrual period. The menstrual health and hygiene management requires provision of adequate toilets, water, and sanitary pads for girls. Data from Sub-County Director of Education for Kacheliba showed that the retention and completion rate of girls for 2022 in primary school was below that of boys. This paper sought the head teachers’ opinion regarding girls’ menstrual hygiene and sanitation and its influence on girls' participation in primary school education. The study was conducted in 39 public primary schools in Kacheliba Sub-County (North Pokot), West Pokot County Kenya. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A sample size of 12 schols representing 30.0% were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire administered to head teachers in the selected schools. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis for qualitative data. Research results showed that majority of schools had inadequate toilets to be used by girlsas they ended up sharing the available ones with boys. This made it uncomfortable for them to share the toilets during their menstrual period. Considering being semi-arid, water availability was inadequate as only 1 out of 11 schools was found to have water supply during the whole academic year. The government of Kenya programme of providing free sanitary pads to girls across public primary schools in the country was found to be irregular. This state of affairs made most girls in Kacheliba sub countyabsent from school during their menstrual period. The paper concludes that menstrual hygiene and sanitation negatively affected girl child participation in primary education because incidents of absenteeism were high, truancy cases and retention was low. The the government should provide capitation funds vote for schools to purchase sanitary towels, partner with other organisations to set up hygiene and sanitation facilities, and educate the community on the need for supporting girl child menstrual hygiene and management