Menstrual health literacy and communication- a case study of Builsa North Municipality

Abstract

Menstrual health literacy is essential for women’s empowerment, their well-being, and participation in healthcare communication. This study examined menstrual health literacy and communication in the Builsa North Municipality, Upper East Region, Ghana, focusing on how women access and use information, the factors that influence their understanding, and strategies to improve menstrual health communication. The study was guided by Sørensen et al. (2012) the Integrated Model of Health Literacy (IMHL). Using a qualitative case study design, the data were collected from 18 participants through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used, and data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s framework of thematic analysis. The study found that women primarily rely on informal channels, such as peers, social media, and lived experiences, to access menstrual health information, even though these sources are sometimes incomplete or misleading. Additionally, the study found that women experienced challenges in accessing and using menstrual information at home, in school and at health centers. However, the study found that women’s menstrual health communication improved through comprehensive education, peer education, and innovative communication tools, among other approaches. The study concludes that menstrual health literacy is multidimensional and depends not only on knowledge acquisition but also on supportive environments and enabling policies to thrive because knowledge alone is not enough to empower women to communicate. The study therefore recommended integrating comprehensive menstrual health education into school curricula, strengthening community-based and peer-led awareness campaigns, training healthcare providers in culturally sensitive communication, and implementing policies that promote menstrual health literacy.