A consultant Public Health Physician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Yetunde Odusolu, has urged women and young girls to maintain good menstrual hygiene to avoid infections.
According to the health safety expert, poor menstrual hygiene could pose physical health risks and has been linked to cervical cancer, reproductive, and urinary tract infections. It can also result in discrimination, marginalisation, and social stigma towards women and girls.
Odusolu, who gave the advice, while speaking with The Guardian, said: “Menstrual hygiene is defined as the principle of maintaining cleanliness of the body during menstrual flow. The required basic facilities to ensure good menstrual hygiene include appropriate clothes, soakage material, water, as well as soap and toilet facilities with privacy.
“It is usually advised that sanitary pads and tampons be used in hygienic way to prevent infections. Good menstrual hygiene can also boost the confidence or self-esteem of the individuals.”
“Gender inequality, discriminatory social norms, cultural taboos, poverty and lack of basic services like toilets and sanitary products can all cause menstrual health and hygiene needs to go unmet.
“Some cultures prohibit women and girls from touching or washing their genitals during menstruation, possibly contributing to infections. In some parts of the world, it is even believed that washing the body during menstruation can lead to infertility.”
The expert, who advised that one should always ensure good handwashing before and after using tampons, further said: “Menstrual hygiene can be included as part of the Health and Physical Education curriculum to ensure that all students are provided with opportunities to learn about menstrual hygiene management.”
