Abstract
Background: In many developing countries, a culture of silence surrounds the topic of menstruation and related issues; as results many young girls having lack of appropriate and sufficient information regarding menstrual hygiene. This may result in incorrect and unhealthy behavior during their menstrual periods.
 Objectives: To assess knowledge, belief, ideas, sources of knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene among girls of GMERS Medical College, Valsad.
 Methods: It is a cross sectional study conducted in GMERS Medical College, Valsad. The sample size was 203 girls (1styr-61 girls, IIndyr – 82 girls, IIIrdyr – 60 girls) all girls those were present on the day of study were included in study sample. Data was collected by pre-designed Questionnaire. The obtained data was analyzed by using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science), Chi- Square test was used to associate various findings.
 Results: During our study, we found that 84% girls had knowledge about menstruation before they experienced first and Mother was found to be the main source of information. Most of girls religious activities were restricted during periods in both Hindus (73%) and Muslims (90%) religion.86.7% girls use sanitary napkins where as 13.3% girls use clothes and reuse them.
 Conclusion: Menstrual hygiene is a vital aspect of health education for girls. Significantly more number of girls in the urban area was using commercially available sanitary pads as compare to the rural girls. For improvement of menstrual hygiene, sanitary napkins should be made universally available and at affordable cost.
 Key words: Menstrual hygiene, Sanitary napkin, Reproductive health, College girls, Myths.
Highlights
Adolescence is a phase of transition from girlhood to womanhood started and marks the onset of female puberty, this period of attaining reproductive maturity between the ages of [10-19] years is marked by a number of physiological and psychologicalbehavioral changes and most important one is the onset of menstruation.(1)Age at the menarche varies widely across the world and within the same region difference can be noted depending on nutritional and socioeconomic status
Most of girls religious activities were restricted during periods in both Hindus (73%) and Muslims (90%) religion.86.7% girls use sanitary napkins where as 13.3% girls use clothes and reuse them
Menstrual hygiene is a vital aspect of health education for girls
Summary
Adolescence is a phase of transition from girlhood to womanhood started and marks the onset of female puberty, this period of attaining reproductive maturity between the ages of [10-19] years is marked by a number of physiological and psychologicalbehavioral changes and most important one is the onset of menstruation.(1)Age at the menarche varies widely across the world and within the same region difference can be noted depending on nutritional and socioeconomic status. Implications of girls response to menarche are restricted to current and future health concerns but it have religious and menstrual hygiene awareness significance It is helpful in collecting the data about its knowledge and social beliefs of menstruation in the society. A culture of silence surrounds the topic of menstruation and related issues; as results many young girls having lack of appropriate and sufficient information regarding menstrual hygiene. This may result in incorrect and unhealthy behavior during their menstrual periods
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
