Socioecological Barriers to and Facilitators of Optimal Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Adolescent Girls in Two Rural Districts of Ghana

Globally, about 500 million menstruators lack access to basic menstrual hygiene management (MHM) facilities. The objective of this study was to explore barriers to and facilitators of optimal MHM among adolescent girls. This study employed a phenomenological design to explore the experiences of adolescent girls and teachers regarding MHM. Barriers to optimal MHM included menstrual symptoms, negative social norms, and limited access to menstrual information and MHM facilities. Facilitators of optimal MHM included availability of water in schools and parental and peer support. The findings of this study underscore a need for a multidimensional approach to addressing MHM challenges in Ghana.