Menstruation: a cross-sectional study on knowledge, belief, and practices among adolescent girls of junior colleges, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health - Year 2016, Vol 5, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: Awareness about reproductive health, inclusive of menstruation hygiene, is generally lacking in adolescent girls because of sociocultural barricades in which they grow up. Objective: To study the knowledge, practices, and sources of data pertaining to menstruation and hygiene among adolescent girls in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 1,160 college-going adolescent girls aged 15–19 years. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS, version 19. Result: The study showed a response rate of 91.63%. The mean age of the study population was 17.13 ± 1.048 years, and the mean age at menarche was 13.83 years. Around 24.7% participants were aware about menstruation before menarche, 48% showed dysmenorrhea, and mothers were the main source of information. More than half of the students showed certain beliefs regarding menstruation and were also following restrictions. Overall, 78.9% of adolescent girls preferred sanitary napkins as menstrual absorbent, while 25.6% of the girls were using both cloth and sanitary napkins. Conclusion: Knowledge pertaining to safe, clean practices is needed in adolescent girls to ensure a healthy reproductive life for them
Authors and Affiliations
Aruna Marati Savanthe, Vrushabhendra Halevoor Nanjundappa
Keywords
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- EP ID EP106680
- DOI 10.5455/ijmsph.2016.100620157
- Views 121
- Downloads 0
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