Abstract:
Objectives
Conduct a feasibility study on the effect of menstrual hygiene on schoolgirls9 school and health (reproductive/sexual) outcomes.
Design
3-arm single-site open cluster randomised controlled pilot study.
Setting
30 primary schools in rural western Kenya, within a Health and Demographic Surveillance System.
Participants
Primary schoolgirls 14–16 years, experienced 3 menses, no precluding disability, and resident in the study area.
Interventions
1 insertable menstrual cup, or monthly sanitary pads, against ‘usual practice’ control. All participants received puberty education preintervention, and hand wash soap during intervention. Schools received hand wash soap.
Primary and secondary outcome measures
Primary: school attrition (drop-out, absence); secondary: sexually transmitted infection (STI) (Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoea), reproductive tract infection (RTI …
