Knowledge of Menstruation and Menstrual Hygiene among Adolescent School Girls: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors/Creators
- 1. PG Resident, Department of Community Medicine, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India
- 2. Assistant Professor Cum Statistician, Department of Community Medicine, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India
- 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India
- 4. Senior Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India
- 5. Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India
Description
Background: In many developing countries like India, a culture of silence surrounds the topic of menstruation and related issues; as a result, many young girls are having lack of appropriate and sufficient information regarding menstrual hygiene. This may result in incorrect and unhealthy behavior during their menstrual periods. Objectives: To assess knowledge and impart health education regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in two Govt. Senior Secondary Girls Schools, Jhalrapatan. All the eligible girls, aged 10 to 19 years and who have menarche, were included for study. Data was collected by pre-designed Questionnaire which includes socio-demographic information, knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene and general physical examination. At the end of session, concern health education was delivered by LMO. The obtained data was analyzed by using SPSS software. Chi- Square test was used for significant association and p value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Out of 375 girls, 45.6% girls had good knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Mother was found to be the first source of information in most of the girls. Mean age of menarche was 12.78±1.2 years. Regular cycle was reported by 68.8% of girls. Sanitary napkins were used by 84% of girls while clothe was used by 16% of girls. Association of knowledge was found significant with age (p=0.018), class standard (p<0.0001) and literacy status of mother (p=0.012). Religious activities were restricted (66.4%) during periods in both Hindus and Muslims religion. Conclusion: Less than 50% of adolescent girls had adequate knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Mother was first source of information in most of girls and it also depends on mother’s literacy status. Taboo’s related to menstruation still persist in the society.
Abstract (English)
Background: In many developing countries like India, a culture of silence surrounds the topic of menstruation and related issues; as a result, many young girls are having lack of appropriate and sufficient information regarding menstrual hygiene. This may result in incorrect and unhealthy behavior during their menstrual periods. Objectives: To assess knowledge and impart health education regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in two Govt. Senior Secondary Girls Schools, Jhalrapatan. All the eligible girls, aged 10 to 19 years and who have menarche, were included for study. Data was collected by pre-designed Questionnaire which includes socio-demographic information, knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene and general physical examination. At the end of session, concern health education was delivered by LMO. The obtained data was analyzed by using SPSS software. Chi- Square test was used for significant association and p value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Out of 375 girls, 45.6% girls had good knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Mother was found to be the first source of information in most of the girls. Mean age of menarche was 12.78±1.2 years. Regular cycle was reported by 68.8% of girls. Sanitary napkins were used by 84% of girls while clothe was used by 16% of girls. Association of knowledge was found significant with age (p=0.018), class standard (p<0.0001) and literacy status of mother (p=0.012). Religious activities were restricted (66.4%) during periods in both Hindus and Muslims religion. Conclusion: Less than 50% of adolescent girls had adequate knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Mother was first source of information in most of girls and it also depends on mother’s literacy status. Taboo’s related to menstruation still persist in the society.
Files
IJPCR,Vol16,Issue3,Article228.pdf
Files
(493.2 kB)
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
md5:2aa640a505d366ba0e81c673dec06680
|
493.2 kB | Preview Download |
Additional details
Dates
- Accepted
-
2024-03-15
Software
- Repository URL
- https://impactfactor.org/PDF/IJPCR/16/IJPCR,Vol16,Issue3,Article228.pdf
- Development Status
- Active
References
- 1. Adolescents in India. A Profile. World Health Organization. 2003. Available at: http://www.whoindia.org/LinkFiles/Adolescen t_Health_and_Development_(AHD)_UNFPA_ Country_Report .pdf (Accessed on December 2023) 2. Menstrual Hygiene Management National Guidelines (December 2015) | Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, GOI [Internet]. Mdws.gov.in. 2019 [cited 28 May 2019]. Available from: https://mdws.gov.in/menstrual-hygienemanagementnational-guidelines-december2015 3. Sangeeta Kansal, Sweta Singh, Alok Kumar, Menstrual Hygiene Practices in Context of Schooling: A Community Study Among Rural Adolescent Girls in Varanasi, Indian Journal ofCommunity Medicine/Vol 41/Issue 1/January 2016. 4. Rajsinh V. Mohite, Vaishali R. Mohite, Menstrual hygiene practices among slum adolescent girls, Int J Community Med Public Health .2016 Jul;3(7):1729-1734 5. Priya S et al. A study of menstrual hygiene and related personal hygiene practices among adolescent girls in rural Puducherry Int J Community Med Public Health. 2017 Jul;4(7):2348- 2355 6. Subita P. Patil, Harshal Kumar N. Mahajan, A Cross Sectional Study Regarding Menstrual Hygiene Practices and Myths among Rural Adolescent Girls, Healthline Journal Volume 10 Issue 1 (January-June 2019) pg 55 to 61 7. Deshmukh V, Sandhu GK, Rachakonda L, Kakde M, Andurkar SP. Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding menstruation among girls in Aurangabad, India and their correlation with sociodemographic factors. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol 2019; 8:979-87. 8. Patel, D. M. G., Mahyavanshi, D. D. K., &Nayak, D. S. KAP study on menstruation and menstrual hygiene among college girls - a cross sectional study. International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies, 2019; 3 (9),223-231. 9. Agrawal AK, Agrawal A. A study of dysmenorrhea during menstruation in adolescent girls. Indian J Community Med 2010; 35:159-64 10. Gupta N et al. A cross-sectional study on menstrual hygiene practices among school going adolescent girls (10-19 years) of Government Girls Inter College, Saifai, Etawah Int. J Community Med Public Health. 2018 Oct;5(10):4560-4565 11. Khanna A, Goyal RS, Bhawsar R. Menstrual practices and reproductive problems: a study of adolescent girls in Rajasthan. J Health Manag. 2005; 7:91-107. 12. Mudey AB, Keshwani N, Mudey GA, Goyal RC. A cross-sectional study on the awareness regarding safe and hygienic practices amongst school going adolescent girls in the rural areas of Wardha district. Global Journal of Health Science 2010;2(2):225-31