Management of Schools' Changing Rooms to Support Menstruating School Girls

Abstract

This chapter examines the nexus of equity and participation in learning for secondary schoolgirls as impinged by gender-specific sanitary resources. The study used a mixed research approach in a cross-sectional survey with a concurrent data collection design. Interviews, field observations, and questionnaires were adopted for data collection. School changing rooms and associated sanitary resources were pointed out as support facilities for schoolgirls' learning during menstruation. The study revealed that schoolgirls demonstrated self-esteem and confidence in learning if schools had adequate hygienic resources. Running water systems, sanitary pads, and the comprehensive menstrual hygiene system obtained in the changing rooms are significant to participation in learning. Secondary schoolgirls were likely to drop out of their studies due to a lack of gender-specific sanitary resources. A comprehensive investigation is recommended for an in-depth understanding of equity and learning from the perspective of schoolgirls' voices.