MENSTRUAL HYGIENE- KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE AMONG ADOLESCENT SCHOOL GIRLS IN RURAL AREAS OF PUNJAB
Journal Title: Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 83
Abstract
BACKGROUND As per WHO, individuals of 10-19 years age are considered as adolescents. They constitute over 21.4% of the population in India. Menstruation is a phenomenon unique to girls which not only has physical but lot of psychological impact. The psychosocial and emotional problems associated with menarche are of considerable magnitude. Basics of menstrual hygiene and importance of proper care at menstruation needs to be emphasised to avoid reproductive tract infections and infertility later on. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge and the practices of menstrual hygiene among rural school going adolescent girls. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was undertaken among adolescent school going girls in rural area of Ludhiana district, Punjab. The study was conducted in July 2015 on 197 school going girls. A predesigned, pretested and structured questionnaire was used in the study. The data collection technique was a personal interview of all the study subjects. RESULTS Most of the girls, 104 (52.79%), were in the age group between 14 - 16 years. Out of 197 girls, only 33 (16.75%) of the girls were aware of menstruation before menarche. More than three fourth of the girls were not aware of the cause and source of bleeding. Most of the girls, 118 (59.89%), were having regular periods. Duration in 164 (83.24% of) girls was between 5 - 7 days. The major source of information about menstruation for them was found to be their mother and sister (67%). A majority, 184 (93.4%), of them had knowledge about the use of sanitary pads. 95 (48%) girls were using 3 pads per day. During menstruation, washing perineal area with soap and water (79, 40.20%), clipping of pubic hairs (136, 69%) and taking bath daily (150, 76%) appeared to be satisfactory. About half of the girls felt menstruation is a stressful condition, felt fatigued and was affecting their concentration and results in class. About one fourth of the girls needed to take holiday from school. CONCLUSION Strengthening of menstrual hygiene programmes targeting school teachers, parents and adolescents is the need of the day in India. Reproductive tract infections and infertility is a major health issue because of poor menstrual hygiene.
Authors and Affiliations
Arti Gupta Tuli, Tapasya Dhar, Joffi Joffi, Neha Garg
Keywords
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- EP ID EP276108
- DOI 10.14260/jemds/2017/1257
- Views 68
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