2025, Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part A

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study was conducted between January and March 2022 in five government secondary schools in Bamako. A total of 180 adolescent girls aged 12-16 years who had attained menarche participated in the study. The intervention consisted of four structured weekly educational sessions delivered by trained school health nurses. Pre- and post-intervention data on knowledge, hygiene practices, and stigma perceptions were collected using a validated questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with paired t-tests and chi-square tests applied to measure statistical significance.

Results: The mean knowledge score increased from 8.1 ± 2.5 to 14.3 ± 1.9 (p < 0.001). Hygiene practices showed significant improvement: regular pad changing increased from 42.8% to 77.8%, handwashing from 59.4% to 86.1%, and safe disposal of materials from 36.7% to 73.9%. Stigma perception declined from 51.1% to 28.3%, while the percentage of girls comfortable discussing menstruation rose from 27.2% to 65.6%. School absenteeism during menstruation decreased from 33.3% to 15.6%.

Conclusion: School health nursing programs significantly enhance menstrual hygiene awareness and safe practices while reducing stigma and absenteeism among adolescent girls. Integrating such interventions into Mali’s school health policy is essential to improving adolescent reproductive health and educational outcomes.