By Michael Foli Jackidy
Hohoe (V/R), June 19, GNA – Dr Sitsofe Gbogbo, Research Fellow at the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), has urged policymakers to recognise menstrual health as a critical mental health and adolescent development issue, not merely a WASH concern.
Presenting findings from a three-year research project at the UHAS and Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute (RGHI) Project Dissemination Forum in Hohoe, Dr Gbogbo said millions of adolescent girls continued to face avoidable barriers that negatively affected their physical, educational and psychological wellbeing.
The forum was held on the theme: “Breaking the Silence: Menstrual Hygiene Management and Adolescent Mental Health in Ghana.”
Dr Gbogbo, who also served as Principal Investigator of the project, said the fellowship had extended beyond research to include evidence generation, mentorship and community engagement aimed at improving menstrual health and mental wellbeing among adolescents.
She noted that an estimated 1.8 billion girls and women worldwide menstruate, yet menstrual health remains neglected due to stigma, myths, inadequate facilities and limited access to menstrual products.
“These barriers affect girls’ physical health, education, social participation and mental wellbeing. In many low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana, menstrual health has traditionally been viewed as a WASH issue, while its link to mental health has largely been overlooked,” she said.
Dr Gbogbo explained that the project sought to address critical gaps in menstrual health research in sub-Saharan Africa, including limited attention to mental health, the exclusion of boys from menstrual health discussions, cultural beliefs surrounding menstruation and fragmented regional evidence.
The study adopted both quantitative and qualitative approaches to generate culturally relevant evidence to inform policy and practice.
The quantitative component involved a survey of 1,161 adolescent girls across five districts in the Volta Region and 431 adolescent boys from five senior high schools. It assessed unmet menstrual health needs, depression, anxiety, stress and attitudes towards menstruation.
The qualitative component comprised focus group discussions with adolescent girls, parents and teachers to better understand the social and cultural factors influencing menstrual experiences.
According to the findings, girls who were unable to manage menstruation safely, privately and with dignity were more likely to experience depression, anxiety, stress, shame, and social isolation.
“Menstrual health should no longer be categorised strictly as a sanitation or hygiene issue. It must be recognised as a fundamental component of mental health and adolescent development,” Dr Gbogbo stated.
She said unmet menstrual health needs, including inadequate menstrual products, lack of privacy and poor disposal systems, directly contributed to poor mental health outcomes among school-aged girls.
“Investing in menstrual health is a direct investment in mental health, education, gender equality and adolescent development. When girls manage their periods with dignity, the risks of depression and anxiety decrease, allowing them to remain in school and reach their full potential,” she said.
Dr Gbogbo also underscored the importance of involving boys in menstrual health education.
She revealed that while 63.4 per cent of adolescent boys demonstrated adequate knowledge about menstruation and 73.5 per cent rejected the notion that menstruation was taboo, 55.2 per cent still held negative socio-cultural beliefs and 52.7 per cent exhibited poor attitudes towards menstruation.
“These findings show that while knowledge levels are improving, harmful cultural beliefs persist and must be addressed through sustained education,” she said.
The research further revealed that menstrual experiences were deeply influenced by socio-cultural beliefs and practices.
While some girls viewed menstruation as a sign of maturity worthy of celebration, others reported beliefs that menstrual blood could be used for rituals or witchcraft, contributing to secrecy and fear surrounding menstrual hygiene practices.
Dr Gbogbo said many girls resorted to burning or burying used sanitary materials because of fears associated with improper disposal.
“Programmes must go beyond providing sanitary products. They must engage communities to address deeply rooted beliefs, myths and social norms that continue to shape menstrual experiences,” she stressed.
She disclosed that the project had produced six peer-reviewed publications in reputable international journals and was supporting further studies on menstrual health, including research into menstrual cup acceptability, obstetric fistula, female genital schistosomiasis and the role of boys in menstrual health education.
The project has also strengthened research capacity through mentorship programmes and training in qualitative data analysis and systematic reviews.
Dr Gbogbo called on schools, communities, government institutions and development partners to collaborate in creating supportive environments for adolescent girls.
She urged schools to integrate menstrual health education into their programmes, provide private WASH facilities and train teachers to better support girls.
She also appealed to communities to challenge harmful myths and encourage open dialogue, while urging government to prioritise menstrual health in national policies and increase investment in school infrastructure.
“Collaborate today, invest wisely, act together and empower every girl, every day. Menstrual health is a mental health issue. Recognise it, act on it and support girls,” she said.
GNA
Edited By: Maxwell Awumah/Audrey Dekalu