Publications by authors named "Laura Hytti"
Adolescent girls face social, psychological, and physical problems managing menstruation in schools in low-resource settings. This study aimed to evaluate the social and physical menstrual health environment of secondary schools in Wakiso and Kalungu districts, Uganda, in preparation for a subsequent menstrual health intervention trial to improve education, health and wellbeing. We conducted a qualitative rapid assessment in 75 secondary schools in Uganda.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Menstrual health is an increasingly recognised public health issue, defined as complete physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to the menstrual cycle. The MENISCUS trial aims to assess whether a multi-component intervention addressing physical and emotional aspects of menstrual health improves educational attainment, mental health problems, menstrual management, self-efficacy, and quality of life among girls in secondary school in Uganda.
Methods: The study is a parallel-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial with 60 schools (clusters) in Wakiso and Kalungu districts, with a mixed-methods process evaluation to assess intervention fidelity and acceptability and economic and policy analyses.
Background: Qualitative data show negative impacts of menstruation on health and education in many settings, but there are few longitudinal quantitative studies of the impact of menstruation. We analyse associations with menstrual anxiety and school attendance in a study of Ugandan secondary school students.
Methods: Data were from a longitudinal pilot study of a menstrual health intervention (MENISCUS), conducted in two secondary schools in Entebbe sub-district, Uganda.
Article Synopsis
- - The pilot study aimed to address poor menstrual health and hygiene in secondary schools in Entebbe, Uganda, through a multifaceted intervention that included teacher training, a drama skit, training on menstrual kits, pain relief guidance, and improvements to school WASH facilities.
- - Data collection methods included quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to evaluate various aspects of the intervention's implementation, such as fidelity, reach, and acceptability, focusing on students aged 13-21.
- - While most intervention components were implemented effectively—like the drama skit and menstrual kit training—challenges arose with the school-owned components, such as the puberty education training and WASH improvements, though overall, participants found the intervention acceptable.
Objectives: Achieving good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is a public health challenge and there is little evidence to inform interventions. The aim of this study was to pilot test an intervention to improve MHH and school attendance in Uganda, in preparation for a future cluster-randomised trial.
Design: Longitudinal study with pre-post evaluation of a pilot intervention.