Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 122 | Published: 15 Oct 2026
Josephine Nyator1,&, Oscar Barnarbas Anumu2, Mark Kwame Ananga1, Sitsofe Gbogbo1, Frank Baiden1, 2
1Department of Population and Behavioral Sciences, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana; 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Josephine Nyator, Department of Population and Behavioral Sciences, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana, Email: josnyator123emefa@gmail.com
Received: 11 Mar 2026, Accepted: 30 Aug 2026, Published: 15 Oct 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Menstruation, menstrual waste disposal, reusable menstrual products, adolescent girls, Ghana
©Josephine Nyator et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Josephine Nyator et al., Menstrual waste disposal practices among senior high school students in the south Dayi district, Ghana. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):122. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-00122
An exploratory descriptive qualitative design with phenomenological elements was used in the South Dayi District, Ghana. Data was collected in six recorded focus group discussions with students and three recorded in-depth interviews with key stakeholders (student leaders). Thematic analysis was utilized to derive codes and themes from the verbatim transcripts.
Fifty-one female students and leaders participated in the study. Their average age was 17years (standard deviation of 0.94). All students had received at least one year of senior high school education. Burning, burying, and dumping into school bins or toilets (KVIP/pit latrine) were the most mentioned modes of disposal of used menstrual materials. Practices were driven by a pervasive fear of blood use for ritual purposes and the lack of dedicated disposal facilities. Practices were influenced by a strong desire for privacy. Inadequate infrastructure intensified feelings of embarrassment and this led to self-imposed isolation. Awareness of the existence of reuseable products was limited. While economic benefit seemed obvious, there were concerns about hygienic use, given inadequacy in water availability. Reuseable pads were perceived to be a product that should be used by poor people and is outmoded.
Menstrual waste disposal practices among senior high school students in the South Dayi District are the outcome of an interplay of cultural beliefs, deficient infrastructure, and stigma-avoidance. A sustainable transition to reusable products will require attention to clean water availability. Social marketing interventions may be needed to gain acceptance of reuseable products.
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