The effect of an audio-recorded intervention program on the knowledge and self-reported practices of menstruation and hygiene among visually impaired young girls in Rwanda: a mixed method study.
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BACKGROUND: Menstrual hygiene practices among visually impaired young girls are a significant public health concern in Rwanda. Limited knowledge about menstruation leads to inadequate hygiene practices, increasing the risk of cervical cancer, urinary tract infections, and reduced quality of life. The menstrual hygiene needs of visually impaired girls who depend on daily assistance for personal hygiene have not been adequately addressed in previous studies. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of an audio-recorded program on the knowledge and self-reported practices of menstruation hygiene among visually impaired young girls in Rwanda. METHODOLOGY: A pre-post mixed intervention study was conducted involving 93 visually impaired young girls from four specialized educational institutions. After obtaining consent and assent, baseline data were collected following an audio-recorded intervention. A pretested tool was used to measure participants' knowledge and practices about menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Post-interventional data was collected, and paired t-tests were used to analyze changes in knowledge and practice scores. Qualitatively, focus group discussions were used to evaluate the perceived effect of the audio-recorded program. Qualitative data were organized by Dodoose software and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The majority of participants (67.7%) were enrolled in secondary education level and lived in rural areas (76.3%), with the largest proportion (43%) being between the ages of 16 and 20 years. There was a significant increase in the knowledge of young visually impaired girls (p < 0.001) after the audio-recorded intervention program. There was a significant increase in the overall menstrual hygiene practice after the implementation of the audio-recorded program (p < 0.001). Qualitatively, four themes emerged from the study, including improved knowledge and abilities, boosted confidence, the convenience of audio, and the perceived need to increase audio effectiveness. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a significant association between the audio-recorded interventions and improved menstrual hygiene knowledge and practices among visually impaired young girls. However, since the study utilized a pretest-posttest design, a randomized controlled trial is recommended for robust evidence.