Enhancing Practitioner Skills Through the Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS-36)
Menstrual hygiene management is a critical aspect of health and education for women and girls worldwide. Recent research conducted in Soroti, Uganda, has led to the development of the Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS-36), a tool designed to measure the extent to which menstrual practices and environments meet the needs of menstruating individuals. This blog post explores how practitioners can leverage the findings from this study to improve their skills and encourage further research in the field.
Understanding the MPNS-36
The MPNS-36 was developed through a comprehensive process that included systematic reviews and expert feedback. It aims to capture respondents' perceptions of their menstrual management practices and environments. The scale consists of 28 core items applicable to all respondents and 8 additional items for those who reuse menstrual materials. The tool's validation involved a cross-sectional survey of 538 menstruating schoolgirls in Soroti, Uganda.
Key Findings and Implications for Practitioners
The study revealed several important insights:
- Reliability and Validity: The MPNS-36 demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity, making it a valuable tool for assessing menstrual hygiene experiences.
- School Absenteeism: Higher scores on the MPNS-36 were associated with lower odds of missing school during menstruation, highlighting the impact of adequate menstrual practices on education.
- Mental Health Correlates: Positive perceptions of menstrual practices were linked to fewer mental health symptoms, emphasizing the broader implications of menstrual hygiene management.
Practitioners can use these findings to tailor interventions that address specific needs related to menstrual hygiene. By understanding the factors that contribute to positive menstrual experiences, practitioners can develop targeted programs that reduce school absenteeism and improve mental health outcomes.
Encouraging Further Research
The MPNS-36 is a pioneering tool that opens up new avenues for research in menstrual hygiene management. Future studies should explore its applicability across different cultural contexts and populations. Additionally, researchers are encouraged to investigate the scale's potential in evaluating interventions aimed at improving menstrual health.
The study also highlights the importance of considering both quantitative and qualitative data when assessing menstrual experiences. Practitioners should be encouraged to engage with both types of data to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by menstruating individuals.
Conclusion
The development and validation of the MPNS-36 mark a significant step forward in understanding and addressing menstrual hygiene needs. By implementing the outcomes of this research, practitioners can enhance their skills and contribute to improved health and educational outcomes for women and girls. To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Measuring menstrual hygiene experience: development and validation of the Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS-36) in Soroti, Uganda.
