Puberty and Menstruation Knowledge, Information Sources and Needs among Secondary School Adolescent Girls and Boys in Kibaha, Tanzania.

This baseline study aimed to assess the knowledge, information sources, and needs of adolescent boys and girls regarding puberty and menstruation. The study was conducted in selected schools before establishing school health clubs. The objective was to gather information that would inform the development of puberty education programs tailored to the specific needs of the adolescent population. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kibaha Town council from 17th to 31st March, 2020 involving both adolescent boys and girls. Data was collected using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including a semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data was analysed using a thematic approach. The study involved 591 students, with 461 completing a questionnaire and 130 participating in FGDs. Results showed that many adolescent boys and girls had limited knowledge about puberty and menstruation. Only about 34% of participants felt well informed about puberty, and 31% about menstruation. Participants' knowledge of specific aspects ranged from 36.2% to 97.4% for puberty and 21.7% to 87.4% for menstruation. Participants had inadequate knowledge of issues such as age at puberty, some physical changes in boys, the mechanism of menstruation, and the menstrual cycle. Before menarche, 39% of respondents primarily relied on schoolteachers for information about menstruation. However, this shifted significantly after menarche, with 51% of respondents citing their mothers as the primary source. However, students preferred to get information from school clubs (40%), health care providers (23%) and school teachers (11%). Further, very few students indicated receiving information before puberty. Girls indicated the need for more information as compared to adolescent boys, particularly on issues related to menstrual hygiene, the use of menstrual materials, and how to manage menstrual pains. This study reveals significant gaps in adolescents' knowledge of puberty and menstruation, underscoring the need for comprehensive and early education. School health clubs, particularly when facilitated by external health professionals and integrated with WASH programs, offer an effective platform for addressing these gaps, providing a comfortable space for learning and empowering both boys and girls with critical knowledge and skills. Empowering both boys and girls through such initiatives can reduce stigma, foster supportive behaviors, and promote adolescent well-being. Findings were used to inform the development of materials for the facilitation of school clubs, for both girls and boys.