ASSESSMENT OF MENSTRUAL HYGIENE PRACTICES AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS
Journal Title: Stanley Medical Journal - Year 2016, Vol 3, Issue 1
Abstract
Context: Menstruation and menstrual practices are still clouded by taboos and socio cultural restrictions leading to continuing ignorance of adolescent girls regarding scientific facts and hygienic health practices which sometimes results in adverse health outcomes. Isolation of the menstruating girls and restrictions being imposed on them in the family have reinforced a negative attitude towards this phenomenon. Menstrual hygiene and management will directly contribute the Millennium Development Goal (MDG-2) on universal education and MDG -3 on gender equality and women empowerment. Aims: 1) To identify beliefs, perception regarding menstruation among study population (2) To assess the knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene among study population. Settings and Design: Community based cross sectional observational study Methods and Material: A community based cross sectional observational study was conducted among 150 adolescent girls of Govt secondary high school in rural field practice area of Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada with the help of pre-designed structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis used: Data was analyzed using Microsoft excel. Results: Out 150 study population 109 (72.67%) girls were aware about menstruation before menarche. Mother was the first informant regarding menstruation in case of 70 (64.22%) girls. 86 (57.33%) girls believed it as a physiological process .128 girls used sanitary pads during menstruation. For cleaning purpose 95 girls used both soap and water regarding restrictions practices 100 girls practiced different restrictions during menstruation conclusions menstrual hygiene, a very important risk for reproductive tract infections, is a vital aspect of health education for adolescent school girls. This can be achieved through the mothers, health staff, school teachers and educational television programmers. Conclusions: Reproductive tract infections, which has become a silent epidemic that devastates women’s life is closely interrelated with poor menstrual hygiene. Therefore, proper menstrual hygiene and correct perceptions and beliefs can protect the womenfolk from this suffering. The adolescent girls should be educated about the facts of menstruation, physiological implications and proper hygienic practices. This can be achieved through the mothers, health staff, school teachers and educational television programs. All mothers irrespective of their educational status should be taught to break their inhibitions about discussing with their daughters regarding menstruation much before the age of menarche. The study reveals the adolescent girls are ignorant about scientific perception about menstruation. This study reveals that about two third of study population are facing different types of restrictions during menstruation. Thus the above findings reinforce the need to encourage safe and hygienic practices among adolescent girls and bringing them out of traditional beliefs, misconceptions and restrictions regarding menstruations.
Authors and Affiliations
Usha Rani Chadalawada, Dr. Santhi Kala P
Keywords
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