Navigating Menstrual Hygiene: Insights into the Awareness, Attitudes, and Habits of Adolescent Girls in Iraq

Background: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is an important aspect of the health and well-being of adolescent girls, especially in developing countries where cultural taboos regarding menstruation and limited access to materials and information create considerable barriers. While the healthcare infrastructure in Iraq has improved in recent years, adolescent girls still experience barriers to accessing information and appropriate menstrual hygiene materials .Objectives: The study aimed to assess the awareness, attitudes, and habits related to menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls (13-19 years) living in Al-Diwaniya city and Afak city in Iraq .Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was completed with 847 adolescent girls from 15 secondary schools between June 2022 to June of 2023. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on demographic characteristics, menstrual knowledge, attitudes toward menstruation, and practices regarding MHM. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, and descriptive and inferential statistics were employed .Results: The mean age of participants was 16.2 ± 1.8 years. Only 34.7% of girls had adequate knowledge on menstruation, nearly half (42.3%) of girls demonstrated negative attitudes towards their menstrual cycle, and 58.6% reported using appropriate absorbent materials. A third (31.2%) of the girls reported changing their materials at recommended intervals. A positive association was observed between the mother's education level and the girls' menstrual knowledge (p<0.001) .Conclusions: Adolescent girls living in Iraq have poor knowledge and poor practices of MHM. Urgently design educational interventions are needed for adolescent girls in Iraq that address both girls' menstrual knowledge and practices and their mothers' attitudes and knowledge.