A Cross - Sectional Study on Menstrual Hygiene Knowledge and Practices among Adolescent Girls in Tribal Population in South India

Abstract

Background: World health Organisation defines adolescents as young people between 10 and 19 years of age. Around 16% of world’s population are adolescents. Transition period from childhood to adult life is termed as adolescents. It is an important and a very sensitive period in the human life cycle. Many developments like physical, mental and social development occur in this adolescent period. Knowledge about menstruation and its hygiene among adolescent girls is grossly inadequate. As a result, they suffer intense mental stress due to lack of proper guidance and support regarding proper menstrual hygiene practices. Methodology: The community-based study was conducted in Valavanthi Primary Health Centre, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. The sample size was attained by multi-stage sampling. By simple random sampling, Salem District was chosen. The respective block, primary health center and sub-centers were chosen by lottery method. Results: 73.5% girls had good knowledge about menstruation. 96.3% girls knew about the sanitary material ideally used during menstruation. 42.3% knew about the frequency of changing pad per day as 4-6 times and 98.5% girls had good knowledge about disposal of pads. 54 % of the study participants had good menstrual hygiene practices. Menstrual hygiene practices were good in adolescent girls who lived in joint families. Conclusion & recommendations: Educational interventions can bring many changes for less discussed topics like menstruation. By social marketing (making low-cost sanitary pads available), better hygienic practices can be adopted. In the school curriculum, safe hygiene and sanitary practices should be included and better communication between adolescent girls and their teachers, mother. Adolescent girls to be encouraged to attend awareness program regularly conducted at Primary Health Centre and adolescent clinics.