A study on menstrual hygiene practices and problems amongst adolescent girls in Udaipur, Rajasthan, 2018

Abstract

Background: Adolescence in girls has been recognized as a special period in life cycle. This period is marked with onset of menarche. It is linked with several perceptions and practices, which sometimes results in adverse health outcomes. So, this study was carried out to assess practices of menstruation in adolescent girls, to find out its related problems and socio-cultural beliefs.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out during January-February 2018 in two schools of Udaipur using convenient sampling method with 440 sample size. Participants were adolescent girls of 9 to 12 standard. Girls were asked to fill a pre formed, pre tested semi-structured questionnaire.Results: Here 68.41% girls gave history of abdominal pain as premenstrual symptoms (PMS). School absenteeism was found 44.54% due to menstruation related problems. Sanitary Napkins were used by 50.22% girls. And 66.54% girls were using water to clean genitals during menstruation. Restriction from attending religious functions was high (91.59%). Associations of absorbents used by participants with absorbents used by their mothers and sisters were statistically significant.Conclusions: Abdominal pain was main PMS. Restrictions due to menstruation were very highly imposed. There were all chances that same types of the adsorbent were used by the adolescent girls, which were used by their mothers and sisters.

Assessment of menstrual hygiene management practices and associated socio-cultural restrictions among adolescent school girls in a rural area of North India

“…Our finding is in agreement with studies done by Palak et al, 2017 and Tundia et al, 2018 who have reported that religious restrictions were present in 91.59% and 88.3% of the menstruating girls respectively. 12,13 However, in contrast to our finding a study done by Alam et al, showed that only 51% of the menstruating girls were not allowed to perform religious activities. 14…”

A Study to Assess Knowledge and Practice of Menstrual Hygiene among the Teenage Students at Dnyanvilas College of Pharmacy, Dudulgaon

“…Change of sanitary pad should be frequent to avoid severe infection at genital area among the girls and also washing of hands with Soap should be practiced. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] In rural area many of the girls were suffering from restrictions of their family members. Such as attending religious functions, touching stored food, playing outside, sleeping on routine bed etc.…”

Chaupadi during menstruation still a major community health challenge: perspective from Mid-Western Nepal

“…Inanother study it was found that 75% wrap in paper/polythene bag and dispose [12]. In this study, 60.6% used to clean genitalia during menstruation with soap-water where as in another study 66.54% girls were using water to clean genitals during menstruation [15]. Remedial measures adopted during menstruation were taking adequate rest (44%), seeking medical advice if needed (22.9%), and drinking plenty of fluid (13.8%) in the present study.…”