Menstrual hygiene practices among slum adolescent girls

Abstract

Background: Menstruation, though natural process, still regarded as something unclean or dirty in Indian society and linked with several misconceptions and practices which results in adverse health outcomes. Objectives of the study was to assess the menstrual hygiene practices and utilization of health care services by adolescent girls residing in slum dwellings. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in adolescent girls residing in slum area of Karad city in year 2014. A total of 230 girls were interviewed by using pre- tested structured questionnaire, elicits information relating to demographic features, menarche age and menstrual hygiene practices. Data were statistically analyzed into frequency percentage distribution and chi-square test was used to determine the statistical association. Results: Maximum, 70.4% girls were in age group 14 to 16 years with mean age 14.8 years. Maternal illiteracy reported was 73% with max, 77.8% families belonged to economic class V. The mean age at menarche was 12.8 years with maximum, 70% had history of regular menstrual cycle. Out of 230 girls, 12.6% were practiced disposable adsorbent sanitary napkins whereas 87.3% practiced reusable cloth materials. Higher percentages of girls, 77.3% were practiced an insanitary method of disposal of materials and practices of personal hygiene including bath during menstruation and cleaning of external genital parts followed by 95.2% girls respectively. The rate of utilization of ICDS and sub-center services was 16.9% and 27.2% respectively. Advanced age and education of girls, mother’s education and economic class are significantly associated with use of sanitary napkins (p<0.05). Conclusions: Present study showed overall poor practices of menstrual hygiene in slum adolescent girls. Formal as well as informal channels of communication need to be emphasized for the delivery of information pertained to menstrual hygiene through organized community efforts. Institutions and organizations at community level should be strengthened for effective delivery of health and nutrition care services for overall better health of community beneficiaries.