Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Menstrual Hygiene Among Government and Private School Girls

Abstract

Menstruation is a normal physiological process unique to females. Pre-menarche is characterized by physiological, cognitive, and psychological transitions which may be initiated from the midst of their second decade. The onset of puberty/ menstruation in girls tends to change their role in society. Overall inadequate awareness levels accompanied by socio-cultural taboos and prevailing myths and misconceptions about menarche and menstruation have played havoc on human society.
 Objective: The main objective of the study is to diagnose and compare the prevailing level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of adolescent girls studying in government and private schools towards menstrual hygiene and management.
 Material & Methods: This Analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted at Government Jouhar Girls High School and Shiblee Grammar School System, Gulberg Branch (private) Faisalabad. A self-administered survey-based questionnaire was developed. Prior formal written approval from school authorities was followed by the pre-planned scheduled visits, explaining the purpose of the study, assuring confidentiality of acquired information, and self-administration of survey-based questionnaires.
 Results: The results indicated that the mean age at menarches of the girls was 13.69±0.95 years. A relatively more percentage of government (59.6%) school respondents followed by private school respondents (57.1%) had satisfactory knowledge about their age of first menarche (p = 0.806). Motivated by the socio-cultural taboos and /or fear or shame a majority of government (59.6%) and private school respondents (57.1%) had satisfactory knowledge about their age of first menarche (p = 0.806). A strong prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) was found in private school girls 87(49.2%) and 21(11.9%), followed by respective percentages of 78(43.8%), 16(9.0%) amongst the government school respondents who recorded their responses as agreed and strongly agreed about the development of reproductive tract infection in the post-menstruation period. As far as the adoption of hygienic practices is concerned a relatively high percentage of government school 28(15.7%) followed by private school 14(7.9%) girls strongly disagreed about changing their absorbent material on daily basis. The development of skin abrasions like rashes, itching, and urinary tract infection was found in a relatively high proportion amongst the government school girls 30(16.9%) followed by private school respondents 18(10.2%) in the post-menstruation period. A most common and alarming unhygienic practice prevalent amongst the government and private school girls was the reuse of absorbent cloth, who responded as agreed and strongly agreed in respective terms as 43(24.2%), 22(12.4%), and 69(39%) and 28(15.8%). 
 Conclusion: The study concluded that the persistent myths, misconceptions, socio-cultural taboos, and unhygienic practices i.e. use of old clothes as absorbent, reuse of absorbent material, and delaying tendency of changing absorbent, amongst the adolescent school girls of government and private institutes which may pose direct adverse health and life quality concerns for the female Pakistani community. The current situation calls for active participatory contributions from education communities to initiate various communication and awareness campaigns regarding pre-menarche knowledge and menstruation management which may aid to strengthen and transform their role as a significant representative of society.

“If I use pad, I feel comfortable and safe”: a mixed-method analysis of knowledge, attitude, and practice of menstrual hygiene management among in-school adolescent girls in a Nigerian city

“…The results of this study indicate a complex outlook regarding knowledge of menstrual hygiene management among JSS adolescent girls in the FCT, with half of the participants (53.45%) demonstrating good knowledge. This is similar to findings from other studies in Nigeria [ 25 , 27 , 28 ] and other countries [ 29 – 31 ]. The good knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene management exhibited by the respondents may be attributed to the high level of awareness and interventions of menstrual hygiene management among adolescents within Nigeria and other developing countries.…”

Assessment of the Impact of a Short-Term Intervention on Menstrual Hygiene Practices of Adolescent Girls in Rural Parts of Central India

“…This attached stigma has further led to a lack of knowledge and conversations about menstrual hygiene. Adolescent females who are unaware of their menstrual cycle face negative cultural attitudes and participate in unhygienic menstruation practices [ 4 ]. Many teenage girls do not practice appropriate menstrual hygiene at home, at school, or in other public situations because of a combination of judgemental social circumstances, misinformation, inadequate facilities, and a shortage of absorbent material options.…”

“…Hygiene measures during menstruation are critical since they raise the risk of psychological, physiological, and medical complications such as skin abrasion and reproductive tract infections [ 3 , 8 ]. According to studies, most adolescent females have minimal and poor knowledge of menarche and menstruation [ 4 ]. Therefore, our study aims to determine how health education interventions have an impact on the menstrual hygiene practices of teenage girls.…”

Prevalence of Knowledge, Attitude & Practice Regarding Menstrual Hygiene in High School Girls: A Cross-sectional Study from Belagavi, Karnataka, India

“…Along with the psychological burden and medical issues associated with hygiene, it also talks about the repercussions of future pregnancy among adolescent girls. 10 Ayurvedic classics explain the code and conduct of adolescent girls. Rajaswala (female after the menarche till menopause) is the most important and the largest period of a woman's life.…”