Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Menstrual Hygiene Management among Adolescent School Girls in Sulaymaniyah City/Iraq

Background: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) remains a significant public health challenge for adolescent girls in many communities. Despite its importance for reproductive health and overall well-being, many girls lack adequate information, resources, and supportive environments to manage menstruation effectively. MHM being crucial for adolescent girls’ health, gaps in knowledge and practices persist among schoolgirls across different educational levels. Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding MHM among adolescent schoolgirls across different grades as well as to find out the association between sociodemographic characteristics with KAP scores. Methods: A quantitative descriptive analytic (Cross-sectional study) was conducted with 432 adolescent girls across different grade levels, The data collection started from November 20, 2024, to February 10, 2025, using an interviewed questionnaire. Results: Among participants, 45.8% had poor knowledge, 31.5% had negative attitudes, and 42.6% demonstrated poor practices toward MHM. KAP scores were significantly associated with age, class level, parental education, and maternal occupation (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate a need for comprehensive menstrual health education programs targeting adolescent girls, particularly in lower grades, to improve MHM and address the gaps in KAP.