International Journal of Educational Research and Development Vol. 5(1), pp. 001-009, February 2016 ISSN 2327-316X ©2016 Academe Research Journals

Review

Menstruation as an education and gender indicator affecting girls dropping out of school

Anna Mugambi and Thomas Georgas*

Institute of Education, University College London. UK

*Corresponding author. Email: tgeorgas@ioe.ac.uk.

Accepted 20 January, 2016

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of menstruation on Kenyan girls’ education with a particular emphasis on the connection between post-pubescent girls’ menstrual management and education. We first look at the current situation as concerns education and gender indicators and then examine the current conditions that girls face in schools in the country. We use the Human Capital Approach to look at how the Kenya Government has tried to bridge the gaps between girls and boys in school over the years and then use a Public Health Approach to critically assess how the Kenya Government has addressed the issue of girls temporarily or permanently dropping out of school thereby affecting their education. Our conclusion is on a few recommendations on the need to address menstruation as a fundamental issue towards empowerment of girls in Kenya.

Key words: Kenya, health education, menstruation, schooling.