Exploring menstrual hygiene management experiences of women farm-workers in rural-Ghana: Oyoko, Eastern-Ghana

Menstruation and menstrual hygiene management are key parts of women's lives universally. Despite this, they remain under-researched, especially among women in agriculture in Ghana. This study aimed to explore the menstrual hygiene management experiences by examining the practices, perceptions, and the factors influencing these experiences among women farm-workers in the Oyoko community of the Eastern Region of Ghana. The study employed a qualitative approach, involving in-depth interviews with fourteen women farm-workers in Oyoko Eastern Region. Data were coded manually and analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed how women’s menstrual experiences are deeply influenced by maternal information during their formative years. Some women over the years transitioned from using cloths, rags, and cotton to sanitary pads for comfort, some other women continue to use cloths and rags due to familiarity since their formative years. Inquiries on their disposal methods also revealed how some menstrual hygiene practices are shaped by religious beliefs and modern educational programs and campaigns. This study highlights the significance of social location proposed by Mannheim, as well as factors beyond social location that tend to influence individual perceptions and practices. Such factors include culture, religion, agency, and personal experiences. Maternal information embedded into the consciousness of menstruating people play a significant role in shaping wo behaviors towards menstrual hygiene management. In conclusion, this study suggests that despite the common generational experiences, individual differences exist and play a significant role in the perceptions of women farmworkers on menstruation which consequently affect how they manage their menstrual hygiene at work.