ISSN 2736-1594
International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2326-7234 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-012, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Impact of menstrual hygiene management on adolescent health: The Effect of Go! Pads on rate of urinary tract infection in adolescent females in Kibogora, Rwanda
James Murekezi1, Frank Murigande2, Silas Kaboneka3, Jean Nikwigize4 and Dismas Makuza5
1Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, Bronx, NY, USA;
2United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, Mbomou Prefecture, Central African Republic;
3Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Division of Biostatistics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York;
4New York University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York, NY, USA;
5 University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Accepted 28 December, 2018
Abstract
To determine urinary tract infection (UTI) rates in adolescent menstrual pad users versus non-users in a rural area of Rwanda. Two hundred and forty adolescent participants in rural Western Rwanda were assigned to two cohorts; 120 received menstrual pads for six months and the other 120 did not use pads. Baseline symptoms and urine cultures were obtained. Symptoms and methods of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) were assessed and urine cultures were obtained every 2 months. The primary outcome was the presence of urinary tract infection diagnosed by positive urine culture. Secondary outcomes were UTI symptoms, vulvovaginal symptoms, sexual activity, dyspareunia and self-reported sexually transmitted infection. Associations of pad use with study outcomes was assessed by employing generalized estimating equations (GEEs) with nesting to account for the possibility of within school clustering as well as within participant correlation. Two hundred and nine participants completed the study. There was no difference in rates of positive urine culture. A decreased odds of vulvovaginal symptoms was found in self-reported “always” vs. “never” pad users (OR: 0.65 95% CI 0.44 to 0.97; p=0.04). Despite not finding any difference in rates of UTI, our study showed a decreased rate of vulvovaginal symptoms in menstrual pad users. Further research investigating rates of genital infections in this population is thus necessary.
Keywords: Menstrual hygiene, adolescent health, urinary tract infection.