A study of menstrual hygiene management in urban and rural adolescent girls in Ambala (Haryana)

Authors

  • Shallu Garg Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana (Ambala)
  • Anu Bhardwaj Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana (Ambala) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7185-9590
  • Anshu Mittal Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana (Ambala)
  • Suresh Bhonsla Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana (Ambala)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47203/IJCH.2020.v32i01.023

Keywords:

Adolescent girls, Menstruation, Menstrual Hygiene, Restrictions

Abstract

Background: Adolescent girls often lack knowledge regarding reproductive health including menstruation hygiene. Poor menstrual hygiene can be a precursor reproductive tract infections and even cancer cervix. Objectives: To study the menstrual hygiene management among rural and urban school going adolescent girls Material and Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 420 adolescent girls (10 - 19 years). A self-designed semi- structured questionnaire was used to study the knowledge and practise regarding menstrual hygiene. Results: Knowledge about menstruation before attainment of menarche was 69% in urban and 58.9% in rural. Mother was the main source of information. Still 23.6% girls were using cloth or towels as menstrual absorbent, and 26.6% girls in rural area were washing their menstrual absorbent to be reused.91.7% and 81% girls had some restriction during menstruation Conclusion:  Awareness in urban adolescent girls was more in comparison to rural girls. The usage of sanitary pads was similar in both rural and urban areas. Menstrual hygiene was better in urban than rural areas. It is imperative that adolescent girls be educated about the, significance of menstruation, and proper hygienic practices during menstruation. Sex education in school curriculum can help in resolving misconceptions about menstruation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Dhingra R, Kumar A, Kour M. Knowledge and practices related to menstruation among tribal (Gujjar) adolescent girls. Ethno-Med. 2009;3:43–8.

Subhash B, Sushma S, Monica R, Nidhi R, Ketaki P, Suresh U. Menstrual hygiene: Knowledge and practice among adolescent school girls of Saoner. Nagpur district. Journal of clinical and diagnostic Research. 2011;5(5):1027-33.

Mehra S. Adolescent Girl: An Indian Perspective. [Internet] New Delhi: MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child [1995, Cited 2018, Jun 12] Available from : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307175405_HEALTH_AND_HYGENIC_PRACTICES_OF_ADOLESCENT_GIRLS

Margaret E. Watering the Neighbours Garden. [Internet] New Delhi: Population Council Regional office for south and east Asia [1997, Cited 2018, Jun 12] Available from:http://www.chsj.org/uploads/1/0/2/1/10215849/booklet8 The_ emerging_agenda-adolescents.pdf

Paul D. A Report of an ICMR Funded Research Project: Knowledge and Practices of Adolescent Girls Regarding Reproductive Health with special Emphasis on Hygiene during Menstruation. New Delhi: National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), 2007.

New Delhi: National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development [Internet]. NIPCCD [2007, Cited 2018 , Jun 12] Available from : http://nipccd.nic.in/reports/eaghealth.pdf

Sudheshna R, Dasgupta A. Determinants of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls. A multivariate analysis. National Journal of Community Medicine. 2012;3(2):294-301.

Roberts M ."Why puberty now begins at seven". [Internet] BBC News. [2005, Cited 2018, Jun 10] Available from : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4530743.stm

Nair MKCC , Ranjith DS, Darwin M. .Indian J.Pediatr 2012;79:74 doi 10.1007/&12098-011-04312.

Adrija D, Nirmalya M, Mousumi D, Jhuma S, Baijayanti B, Saraswati D. Menstruation and menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls A school based comparative study of West Bengal, India: Global Journal of Medicine GJMEDPH. 2012;l(5):50-7.

Kamath R, Ghosh D, Lena A, Chandrasekaran V. A study on knowledge and practices regarding menstrual hygiene among rural and urban adolescent girls in Udupi Taluk, Manipal. India.[Internet] Manipal education [2016 ,Feb 22, Cited 2018 ,Jul 22 ]. Available from :http://eprints.manipal.edu/eprint/145378.

Deo DS, Ghattargi CH. Perceptions and practices regarding menstruation: a comparative study in urban and rural adolescent girls. Indian J Community Med. 2005;30:33–4.

Tiwari H, Tiwari R, Oza UN. Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about menarche of adolescent girls in Anand district, Gujarat. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 2006; 12(2):3-4

Lee HK, Chen PC, Lee KK (2006). Menstruation among adolescent girls in Malaysia: a cross-sectional school survey. Singapore Med J 2006; 47(10): 869-74.

Shanbhag D, Shilpa R, D'Souza N, Perception regarding menstruation and Practices during menstrual cycles among high school going adolescent girls in resource limited setting around Bangalore city, Karnataka, India. International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine and Public Health.2012;4(7):1354 - 1362 .

Omidvar S, Begum K, Menstrual pattern among unmarried women from south India. J Nat Sci Biol Med.2011;2(2):174-9

Priya SS. Menstrual problems and hygiene among rural adolescent girls of Tamil Naidu. Indian Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology Research 2016;3(2):126-131.

Paria B, Bhattacharyya A, Das SA. Comparative Study on Menstrual Hygiene Among Urban and Rural Adolescent Girls of West Bengal. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. Oct 2014;3(4):413-417.

Anuradha , Huchchannavar R , Chayal V, Chahal S. A Study on Menstrual Hygiene among Rural Adolescent Girls. Indian Journal Of Health And Wellbeing,2013; 4(9):1709-11

Downloads

Published

2020-03-31

How to Cite

1.
Garg S, Bhardwaj A, Mittal A, Bhonsla S. A study of menstrual hygiene management in urban and rural adolescent girls in Ambala (Haryana). Indian J Community Health [Internet]. 2020 Mar. 31 [cited 2024 Dec. 22];32(1):120-3. Available from: https://iapsmupuk.org/journal/index.php/IJCH/article/view/1204

Issue

Section

Original Article

Dimensions Badge