Abstract

Adolescent girls often lack knowledge regarding reproductive health including menstruation which can be due to socio-cultural barriers in which they grow up. This study included 1000 adolescent girl students from various schools and inter colleges of urban and rural areas of Pauri. The maximum number of respondents were in the age range of 13-16 yr . They belonged to middle income and lower middle income families. Maximum number of girls attained menarche at the age of 13 years (81%), the mean age of menarche was 11.5 yr with SD 1.290. Thirty nine percent received information about menstruation from their mother whereas 42 percent from their friends. When asked about the and, 83% girls were aware about the right age to bear a child and 98% girls gave right answer about the age at which girl can conceive, but maximum(75%) were ignorant about colostrum. Very less number of respondents (16%) new about family planning. Eighty six percent girls used soap to wash hands after using toilet and 90-94% were aware about hygienic practices pertaining to menstruation.

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