Hohoe: Dr Sitsofe Gbogbo, Research Fellow at the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), has urged policymakers to recognise menstrual health as a critical mental health and adolescent development issue, not merely a WASH concern.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Gbogbo presented findings from a three-year research project at the UHAS and Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute (RGHI) Project Dissemination Forum. The forum, held in Hohoe, focused on the theme 'Breaking the Silence: Menstrual Hygiene Management and Adolescent Mental Health in Ghana.'
Dr Gbogbo, who also served as Principal Investigator of the project, stated that the fellowship extended beyond research to include evidence generation, mentorship, and community engagement aimed at improving menstrual health and mental wellbeing among adolescents. She noted that 1.8 billion girls and women worldwide menstruate, yet menstrual health remains neglected due to stigma, myths, inadequate facilities, and limited access to menstrual products.
She highlighted that these barriers affect girls' physical health, education, social participation, and mental wellbeing. In many low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana, menstrual health has traditionally been viewed as a WASH issue, while its link to mental health has largely been overlooked.
The research addressed critical gaps in menstrual health research in sub-Saharan Africa, including limited attention to mental health, the exclusion of boys from menstrual health discussions, cultural beliefs surrounding menstruation, and fragmented regional evidence. It adopted both quantitative and qualitative approaches to generate culturally relevant evidence to inform policy and practice.
The quantitative component involved a survey of 1,161 adolescent girls across five districts in the Volta Region and 431 adolescent boys from five senior high schools, assessing unmet menstrual health needs, depression, anxiety, stress, and attitudes towards menstruation. The qualitative component comprised focus group discussions with adolescent girls, parents, and teachers to better understand the social and cultural factors influencing menstrual experiences.
According to the findings, girls unable to manage menstruation safely, privately, and with dignity were more likely to experience depression, anxiety, stress, shame, and social isolation. Dr Gbogbo emphasized that menstrual health should be recognized as a fundamental component of mental health and adolescent development.
She revealed that unmet menstrual health needs, including inadequate menstrual products, lack of privacy, and poor disposal systems, directly contributed to poor mental health outcomes among school-aged girls. She stressed that investing in menstrual health is a direct investment in mental health, education, gender equality, and adolescent development.
Dr Gbogbo also underscored the importance of involving boys in menstrual health education, noting that while knowledge levels are improving, harmful cultural beliefs persist. The research revealed that menstrual experiences were deeply influenced by socio-cultural beliefs and practices, contributing to secrecy and fear surrounding menstrual hygiene practices.
The project produced six peer-reviewed publications in reputable international journals and supported further studies on menstrual health, including research into menstrual cup acceptability and the role of boys in menstrual health education. It also strengthened research capacity through mentorship programmes and training in qualitative data analysis and systematic reviews.
Dr Gbogbo called on schools, communities, government institutions, and development partners to collaborate in creating supportive environments for adolescent girls. She urged schools to integrate menstrual health education into their programmes and appealed to communities to challenge harmful myths and encourage open dialogue. She also urged the government to prioritise menstrual health in national policies and increase investment in school infrastructure.