Exploration of poor menstrual health management (MHM) in rural schools

The data comprises qualitative data, collected through semi-structured interviews. The study interviewed 15 learners, 15 teachers, 15 parents, and 3 officials from the Department of Basic Education, Provincial department. The research included people who were eligible for the study criteria. The researcher selected female learners who were between the ages of 16 and 18 and of African descent to share their experiences of menstruation at school. The researcher also selected them based on their residency in Ward 4 of the Senqu District Municipality. The researcher chose parents/guardians (of the girls) to participate as the adults responsible for the learners; there was no age limit or gender requirement, but the main requirement was that they were the parents/guardians of the female learners. The researcher selected teachers based on their employment at the same school as the female learners. This was to achieve the study aims which were to explore whether poor MHM causes school absenteeism. The research was conducted in the Senqu district municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The interviews were voluntary and did not harm or violate any of the participants. 

The data was analysed through thematic analysis, coded in line with similarities and differences. In addition, documents analysis was used to support the primary data. The researcher selected the documents based on their relevance to the three main topics of the study. From the Life Orientation Curriculum, the researcher expected to get information on the content that is prescribed on menstruation, what learners are taught, and how much is allocated to the discussion on the reproductive system. In the Framework for Sanitary Dignity Policy, the researcher anticipated discovering the DWYPD's plan to distribute free sanitary products to impoverished girls attending rural schools. The South African Schools Act: Minimum uniform norms and standards for public school infrastructure, 2013. Under this policy, the researcher is expected to find information on the accepted standards of infrastructure and sanitation in schools; this will be coded with what the participants have to say on the state of infrastructure. The researcher examined the learner absence policy to determine the norms and standards for student attendance, and to confirm whether the explanations given by the participants align with their contributions.