Abstract
PURPOSE: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is essential for adolescent well-being, yet many girls lack adequate menstrual products. While MHM factors are linked to depression, little is known about these associations in Uganda. Because financial insecurity and family context can intensify or buffer menstrual challenges, we examined the relationships between menstrual knowledge, pain, affordability barriers, supply type, restrictions, and depression in the context of an intervention targeting economic and family support. METHODS: We analyzed data from a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial (Suubi4Her) with a 24 month follow up (2018 to 2022). A total of 1260 adolescent girls aged 14 to 17 from 47 secondary schools in Uganda were randomized into three study arms: Control (n=16 schools, n=408); Economic Empowerment using Youth Development Accounts (YDA) (n=16 schools, n=471), matched savings accounts promoting financial literacy and economic stability; and YDA plus Family Strengthening Intervention using Multiple Family Group (MFG) meetings (n=15 schools, n=381), structured caregiver-adolescent sessions to improve family communication, support, and problem solving. Depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Mixed effects regression models examined associations, adjusting for school and individual clustering. RESULTS: Age (β= -0.98, 95% CI: -1.32, -0.64, p < 0.001) was significantly associated with lower depression. Menstrual knowledge (β=0.83, 95% CI: 0.61, 1.06, p < 0.001), menstrual pain (β=0.73, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.95, p < 0.001), affordability barriers (β=3.55, 95% CI: 2.41, 4.30, p < 0.001), and menstrual restrictions (β=1.22, 95% CI: 0.16, 2.28, p= 0.024) were also associated with increased depression. Hygienic products weakened the psychological impact of menstrual pain (β=-0.40, 95% CI: -0.63, -0.16, p= 0.001). Intervention participants had lower depression (YDA: β= -1.88, 95% CI: -3.09, -0.68, p = 0.002; YDA+MFG: β= -1.89, 95% CI: -3.21, -0.56, p= 0.005). Taken together, these results suggest that menstrual hygiene challenges increase the risk of depression, while age, access to hygienic products, and participation in supportive interventions can mitigate these negative effects. CONCLUSION: Findings point to a need for comprehensive MHM programs integrating family economic support, pain management, and mental health. Addressing affordability barriers and menstrual stigma enhances adolescent girls' well-being.