Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices about Menstrual Hygiene among Tribal Adolescent Girls of Raigad district in Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Introduction: In light of the universal experience of menstruation among girls, it remains concerning that there exists a dearth of awareness regarding the menstrual process and appropriate menstrual hygiene practices, particularly among adolescent girls hailing from tribal backgrounds. The objective of our study was to evaluate menstruation-related knowledge and practices in adolescent girls belonging to a tribal community. Materials and Methods:The present research employed a community-based cross-sectional design. The study sample comprised 400 tribal adolescent girls aged between 13 and 18. The participants were purposefully selected from different schools in the Raigad district of the Maharashtra state. A predeveloped and validated questionnaire guide was employed to evaluate the knowledge and practices about menstruation. The data was subsequently analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The average age of menarche was 14.2 years. Notably, a mere 36% of the participants had prior awareness of menstruation before experiencing menarche. Among those who were aware, the primary source of information on menstruation was their friends, accounting for about 43% of respondents, followed by mothers. Most participants believed that they should avoid visiting holy places (67.75%), relatives, friends, or neighbors (57.75%) during menstruation. They also felt that they should not perform household activities (54.25%), bathe daily (44.75%), or practice isolation during their menstrual period (59.25%). The majority of the adolescent girls followed unhygienic practices during menstruation. Conclusions: Tribal adolescent girls exhibit a notable lack of knowledge regarding menstruation. Furthermore, their practices surrounding menstruation are influenced by a range of myths and misconceptions.