Increasing Menstrual Health Awareness in Rural Ghana: A Campaign

This report outlines a campaign designed to increase awareness of menstrual health and promote the use of sanitary pads among school-going girls in rural Ghana, utilizing local media channels during school holidays. The formative evaluation addresses the thematic issue of limited knowledge about menstruation, which negatively impacts girls' health and school attendance. It considers environmental factors like inadequate sanitation facilities and cultural perspectives, including harmful taboos and a lack of open communication about reproductive health. The campaign targets girls aged 10-18 and aims to overcome barriers to healthcare access. The implementation timeline spans one month and includes resource mobilization, coordination with local media, and follow-up sustainability efforts. Key resources include qualified personnel, informative brochures, sanitary pad distribution centers, branding materials, and a budget of $5000. Desklib provides a platform to explore similar solved assignments and past papers.

Stage 2 Assignment- Campaign and
Formative Evaluation

Table of Contents
Campaign Goal......................................................................................................................................3
Formative evaluation.............................................................................................................................3
Thematic Issue.......................................................................................................................................3
Environmental factors and opportunities available................................................................................3
Cultural perspectives of the community................................................................................................4
Population profile..................................................................................................................................4
Implementation timeline........................................................................................................................5
Resources needed..................................................................................................................................5
References.............................................................................................................................................6

Campaign Goal
Increasing awareness of menstrual health and use of sanitary pads among the rural villages of
Ghana using Local Media channels during the School holidays
Formative evaluation
Thematic Issue
Limited knowledge of menstruation information impacts negatively the health status of many
schools going children in Ghana. Many citizens in rural areas of Ghana have informal
education, thus signifying low knowledge with regards to personal and menstrual hygiene.
Lack of adequate knowledge on menstruation has been one of the underlying factors that
keep most of the girls from attending schools during the period. Further, traditional beliefs
have shown to play a crucial role. In the remote villages, it's a common assumption that when
girls menstruate, they are dirty thus creating a stigma in the general community.
Environmental factors and opportunities available
The limited presence of adequate facilities and materials to cater for menstruation is schools
have turned out to be a major public health hazard and a key factor on educational matters
which need urgent medical attention, (Sommer et al., 2015). A growing body of research in
the education sector has gone a step in understanding and addressing these factors and
challenges facing many schools going, girls. Menstruating girls often experience shame, fear
and confusion often arising during this period. Often the girls are faced with a lack of social
support, social and hygiene habits, shortage of water, waste and sanitation disposal
challenges in schools setups, (Mason et al., 2013). This evidence has linked the
discriminatory nature of many school environments, (McMahon et al., 2011). Poor attainment
often decreases the economic potential of life and have negative impacts on the overall
community and further to girls sexual and reproductive health status, agency and self-esteem,
(Sommer, Sutherland & Chandra-Mouli, 2015.

Cultural perspectives of the community
Various cultures have various taboos with regard to menstruation. Some of the cultural
practice can be harmful while others are positive. In certain taboos, women and girls are
instructed not to bath, touch a cow or touch any plant during this period (House et al., 2012).
The underlying culture norms and religious perspectives are linked to the traditional
associations of evil spirits and sexual embracement's.
A remarkable aspect entails engaging parents in education concerning the reproductive
health in general and matters pertaining to sexuality, as it is considered a no go zone. In Sub
Sharan Africa and Asia, girls and women have a low understanding of menstruation, puberty,
and reproductive health systems.
Population profile
Majority of school going girls in Ghana are located in the rural areas and the onset of
menstruation signifies no attendance to schools. Many girls and women are suffering due to
limited knowledge pertaining to menstrual health. Lack of resources and women health
awareness often creates barriers towards getting the required health care services. Girls
between 10-18 years majorly suffer due to inadequate information regarding menstrual
health.

Implementation timeline
The campaign will be implemented within a period of 1 month when the school closes for the
holidays in April 2019. The following timeline will inform the campaign agenda.
Task March 2019 April 2019 May 2019
Resource
mobilization and
setting of key themes
Coordinating and
lasing through
partnerships with
local media stations
Follow up and
sustainability
implementation
phase
Resources needed
The following key resources will be essential for implementing the campaign;
- Qualified personnel understanding the local dialect
- Informative brochures
- Setting remote offices for the assistance of sanitary pads center
- Branding materials for campaigns
- Monetary resources to facilitate the excess not exceeding $5000.

References
House, S. Mahon, T. Cavill, S. 2012: Menstrual hygiene matters. A resource for improving
menstrual hygiene around the world. London: WaterAid. Viewed on 01/03/2019. Available at
HTTP; https://washmatters.wateraid.org/publications/menstrual-hygiene-matters
Mason, L., Nyothach, E., Alexander, K., Odhiambo, F.O., Eleveld, A., Vulule, J., Rheingans,
R., Laserson, K.F., Mohammed, A. and Phillips-Howard, P.A., 2013. ‘We keep it secret so no
one should know’–A qualitative study to explore young schoolgirls attitudes and experiences
with menstruation in rural Western Kenya. PloS one, 8(11), p.e79132.
McMahon, S.A., Winch, P.J., Caruso, B.A., Obure, A.F., Ogutu, E.A., Ochari, I.A. and
Rheingans, R.D., 2011. 'The girl with her period is the one to hang her head reflections on
menstrual management among schoolgirls in rural Kenya. BMC international health and
human rights, 11(1), p.7.
Sommer Kirk, J. M. 2006: Menstruation and Body Awareness. Linking Girls Health With
Girls Education. Amsterdam: Royal Tropical Institute. Viewed on 01/03/2019. Accessed at
https://www.susana.org/en/knowledge-hub/resources-and-publications/library/details/1200
Sommer, M., Hirsch, J.S., Nathanson, C. and Parker, R.G., 2015. Comfortably, safely, and
without shame: defining menstrual hygiene management as a public health issue. American
Journal of Public Health, 105(7), pp.1302-1311.
Sommer, M., Sutherland, C. and Chandra-Mouli, V., 2015. Putting menarche and girls into
the global population health agenda. Reproductive health, 12(1), p.24.