BACKGROUND Menstruation is a natural physiological process linked with several misconceptions and practices having crucial role for health and dignity of girls and women. Hygiene-related practices increases vulnerability to reproductive tract infections. Adolescent girls dwelling in slums are vulnerable to poor reproductive health due to lack of awareness about reproductive health. Keeping in view the above, study has been undertaken with the following aim and objective. The aim of the study is to assess the menstrual hygiene practices and reproductive tract infection among slum dwelling adolescent girls aged 15-19 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted for 1 year from June 2014 to May 2015 covering 210 adolescent girls aged 15-19 years living in the slums of Dibrugarh Town, Assam. An interview using a predesigned and pretested format conducted by house to house survey. For analysis, mean, standard deviation and proportions were calculated, Chi-square and Fischer's exact test was done to see the association. RESULTS Mean age of girls was (16.57 ± 1.48) years and mean age of menarche was (12.73 ± 1.44) years. Awareness about menstruation was 27.1% prior to attainment of menarche. Rate of sanitary napkins use was 68.6% and 53.2% girls cleaned external genitalia >2 times per day. Regarding cultural practices of restriction, 100% girls did not attend any religious occasions during menstruation. Prevalence of reproductive tract infection was 43.3%, which was significantly more among girls using homemade reusable pad and washing external genitalia ≤2 times per day during menstruation. CONCLUSION There is a need to improve menstrual hygiene practices amongst adolescent girls. Awareness building on menstrual hygiene and other factors like traditional beliefs and practices needs to be addressed.
BACKGROUNDDental caries is a major public health concern owing to their higher prevalence and their effects on the individual's quality of life. The problem is dreadful, particularly among school children. Objective-To estimate the prevalence of dental caries among school going children aged 5 -15 years studying in schools of Dibrugarh Town. MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional study was undertaken amongst the school students aged 5 -15 years enrolled in schools of Dibrugarh town, Assam. Students were checked for presence of dental caries and were interviewed with a predesigned and pretested schedule. RESULTSTotal 351 students participated in the study and the overall prevalence of dental caries was found to be 62.1%. The prevalence of dental caries was significantly higher among students belonging to lower socio-economic group. The prevalence was significantly lower among students who had brushing habits twice a day as compared to those having brushing habit once daily. Students having more than one sibling had higher prevalence as compared to students having no or one sibling. The prevalence of dental caries was significantly lower among students studied in private school. CONCLUSIONIt is concluded that the prevalence of dental caries in the present study is on the higher side. The study highlights the need of awareness among students regarding the advantages of good oral hygienic practises with regular monitoring of children for common dental problems at the school level.
BACKGROUNDA baby's weight at birth is the key determinant for its survival and development. It reflects the health and nutritional status of the mother during reproductive period and particularly in pregnancy. The objective of this study is to know the proportion of low birth weight neonates and the effect of maternal age and parity on birth weight.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.