Socio-demographic correlates of menstrual problems among school going adolescent girls in a rural block of Haryana

Abstract

Background: In the last few years, there has been a significant shift on the subject of human reproduction from mainly a ‘demographic issue’ to a broader ‘women’s health and development issue.’ Malnutrition, infection, early and repeated child bearing play an important role in determining menstrual problems of females in India. The other risk factors among women are the existing socio-economic and cultural environmental conditions. The present study was undertaken to know the prevalence of menstrual disorders and its various determinants in rural women of Haryana (Block Beri).Methods: The study was of descriptive type, undertaken on 252 adolescent girls (14-18 years) in a rural block of Haryana (Block Beri), the field practice area attached to department of community medicine Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak. Design used was cross-sectional. The subjects were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Informed verbal consent was taken. A semi-structured interview schedule was used. The data was analyzed by using percentages, proportions.Results: 48.8% of adolescent girls in the study group were suffering from menstrual problems. No statistically significant association of menstrual disorders was observed with type of family, age group, caste and literacy status. Income and mother’s education were statistically significantly associated with menstrual problems.Conclusions: It can be concluded from the study that even though menstrual problems are widely prevalent in the adolescent girls they are not addressed properly. Moreover, there is a need to generate awareness about menstruation at school level.