The Attitudes and Perceptions of Schoolboys Towards Menstruation in Ghana: Her Catamenia, Our Taboo

Menstruation is a natural process yet in many African communities, it is
surrounded by taboos that hinder proper menstrual hygiene management.
Consequently, girls often face stigma, embarrassment, and lack of support,
particularly in school environments. Males lack accurate knowledge about
menstruation, reinforcing harmful attitudes and limiting support for female
relatives. This study explored the attitudes, perceptions and factors influencing
schoolboys’ attitudes towards menstruation in the Hohoe Municipality. A
cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 273 schoolboys were
sampled. Data analyses were carried out in STATA V.16.0. Logistic
regression was fitted to identify significant factors at 95% CI and a p-value <
0.05. The study revealed that 166 (60.8%) of the participants had a poor
perception of menstruation. Predominant 145 (53.1%) also had poor attitudes
towards menstruation. Further analysis revealed that participants in JHS three
(AOR=0.46, 95% CI [0.33, 0.95]) and who had a good perception (AOR=
0.38, 95% CI [0.16, 0.84]) about menstruation were less likely to have poor
attitudes towards menstruation. The study concluded that there is an urgent
need for targeted educational interventions to close knowledge gaps, foster
positive attitudes among boys, and promote gender equity and well-being in
school settings.