Menstrual Practices Research Articles

“Ritual Purity” Reimagined: Eco-Friendly Menstrual Practices and Emotional Well-being in Muslim Women

This study delves into the intricate interplay between menstrual practices and the use of menstrual products in India, entangled with religious and cultural beliefs categorizing menstruating bodies as “ritually impure.” This study investigates the experiences of Muslim women using reusable menstrual products (RMP). The findings highlight a limited yet impactful group of Muslim women comfortable with RMP usage, indicating heightened emotional well-being and body positivity. Participants emphasized the need to raise awareness among menstruators to adopt ecofriendly alternatives. The study calls for further research to promote RMP usage, emphasizing eco-friendly and sustainable menstrual practices in India.

An Educational Intervention on Situational Awareness and Understanding of Menstrual Hygiene, Knowledge, Taboo, and Its Practices among School-going Adolescent Girls in Rural Areas of Belagavi, Karnataka

Background and Aim: Menstruation is a normal physiological event for teenage girls who reach reproductive age. Superstitions and social taboos nevertheless surround it. An inadequate understanding of the menstrual cycle might lead to risky hygiene practices. Despite such clinical and educational impacts, menstruation-related information and hygienic behaviors are not adequately addressed in India, particularly among adolescent girls. Hence, the main objective of this study was to enhance adolescent schoolgirls’ knowledge and usage of menstrual hygiene management in the Belagavi District through educational intervention. Materials and Methods: Four eighty-four adolescent girls aged between 12 and 19 years were randomly assigned into the intervention group (IG group) and control group (CG group) (n = 242 per group). Both groups received one session of an educational intervention. Before and after the intervention, they were requested to complete outcome assessments using the Menstrual Knowledge, Sociocultural Restrictions and Barriers Questionnaire and Menstrual Practice Needs Scale-36. Results: The result of the study has revealed statistical significance. The IG group demonstrated an extremely significant change in both outcome measures’ preintervention and postintervention scores (P < 0.001). In comparison to the CG, the interventional group had superior postinterventional knowledge and hygiene practices, according to the between-group analysis (P < 0.001). Conclusion: According to the current research findings, knowledge levels significantly increased in the IG (88.8%) and the CG (28.45%). Adolescent girls’ practice scores also revealed a significant rise in the IG of 44.6% and no change in the CG. Thus, the educational program’s goals of enhancing menstrual hygiene understanding and practice were achieved effectively.

Menstrual hygiene behaviour among the tribal married women aged 15 to 49 years: A cross-sectional study in a community development block of Paschim Bardhaman District, West Bengal.

Menstrual hygiene management is integrally associated with reproductive health of women. Menstrual health and hygiene needs, particularly of tribal women still remain unmet for many reasons. Inappropriate menstrual behaviour leads to adverse health consequences. This study aimed to ascertain the menstrual hygiene behaviour of tribal married women aged 15 to 49 years and its correlates. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2019 to April 2020 in the Barabani block of Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal. A calculated sample of 530 women was selected randomly from 10 tribal villages of the study area; they were interviewed through a pre-designed schedule for socio-demographic and menstrual hygiene behaviour characteristics. Menstrual hygiene management score was derived based on five essential components- hygienic absorbents, hygienic disposal of absorbents, frequency of changing of absorbents, cleaning of external genitalia and source of water for cleaning; menstrual hygiene behaviour was categorised as favourable and unfavourable. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed using SPSS v. 20. All 530 women were Hindu and belonged to Santhal ethnicity; 53.4% were illiterate. Sanitary pads were used by 43.8% of women; 63% practised indiscriminate throwing for disposal of absorbents; 86% practised appropriate changing of absorbents. Overall, 63% had favourable menstrual hygiene management behaviour, and the literacy status of women was found to be a significant predictor. Unfavourable menstrual practices are still widely prevalent among tribal women, mainly attributable to lack of knowledge. Awareness generation should be focused on improving those practices, which would also result in the improvement of general health conditions.

Impact of dysmenorrhea on urban school girls in Tanzania: the need for a comprehensive menstrual health management guideline

Impact of dysmenorrhea on urban school girls in Tanzania: the need for a comprehensive menstrual health management guideline

IJCM_405A: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice Regarding Menstrual Hygiene Among Students Of A Government School, Thrissur, Kerala

Background: Menstrual hygiene practices are consequently a significant public health issue. However, menstrual practices are still tainted by taboos and other sociocultural constraints, which adversely affect health since adolescent females are unaware of the scientific facts regarding menstrual hygiene practices. Objective: To determine knowledge, attitude, practice regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls in a government higher secondary school, Thrissur, Kerala Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among students of 8th standard to 12th standard in a government higher secondary school Thrissur. The data was collected after obtaining permission from head of the institution and verbal consent from the participants. Results: The study was conducted among 237 adolescent girls studying from 8th to 12th standard in a government school in Thrissur. Out of the total study participants 96 % have high knowledge about menstrual hygiene and the rest have moderate knowledge. 77.6% students use sanitary pads as adsorbing material, 15.6 % use cloth and only 6.8 % use menstrual cup. But 62 % have the opinion that menstrual cup is better than pads. 49% of the students believe that menstrual blood is impure and 50 % of students believe that normal routine activities cannot be done during menstruation. Most of the participants (92 %) adopt burning as the method of disposal while 4.2 % were practicing flushing of the pads. 61.2 % students liked to share doubt with mother and 30 % like to share with friends. Conclusion: Majority of the students have good knowledge about menstrual hygiene, but the scientific knowledge about menstruation is lacking behind.

IJCM_60A: Menstrual hygiene management practices in tribal areas of Mysore district: A cross-sectional study

Background: Menstrual Health Management is defined as women and adolescent girls using a clean menstrual management material to absorb or collect blood that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary for the duration of menstruation period, using soap and water for washing the body as required and having access to facilities to dispose of menstrual management materials. Since considerable amount of tribal population belong to Mysore district it is important to study the practices among the most vulnerable population. Objectives: 1. To estimate the knowledge on menstrual hygiene among the study population. 2. To measure the impact of socio-demographic and cultural determinants on menstrual hygiene management practices among the study population. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study on menstruating women residing in tribal areas of Mysuru district was conducted from July to September 2023. Sample size was calculated using single proportion formula and it was estimated to be 130. All menstruating women/girls who were present during the time of visit were included in the study after getting their consent/ ascent. Multistage sampling was adopted to select the study participants. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used for collection of data. Data was entered in MS Excel and analysed using SPSS v29 trial version. Results: 99% of the study population knew that menstruation is a physiological process and poor menstrual hygiene causes urinary and reproductive tract infections. More than 80% of the study population have access to sanitary napkins for managing their menstrual cycles. Conclusion: Majority of the study participants are aware about menstruation as a physiological process and have access to sanitary napkins for management. But the disposal of sanitary waste and cultural barriers that persists in the society are still existing as a roadblock for improving reproductive health.

A Qualitative Analysis of Urbanization and Menstrual Health Among Young Women.

This qualitative study, grounded in theory, employed inductive coding for analysis, focusing on menstrual health among urban women aged 10-25. The research aims to explore the menstrual health status, practices, and beliefs of participants. The research delves into the impact of recent government initiatives on menstrual health and assesses the role of urbanization in shaping evolving menstrual health practices among young girls. Employing in-depth qualitative methods such as interviews and focus group discussions, the study seeks a comprehensive understanding of participants' experiences and perceptions related to menstrual health. The dynamics of women's menstrual experiences are significantly influenced by urbanization, heightened exposure to social media, evolving lifestyles, and government initiatives like the distribution of menstrual products in schools and the enhancement of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in government institutions. Positive shifts have been observed, including reduced restrictions on menstruating individuals, enhanced access to affordable hygiene products, and improved disposal facilitated by municipal garbage collection services. However, notable gaps persist in basic knowledge about menstruation, hygienic practices, effective interpersonal communication with schoolteachers or community health care workers, and compliance with government programs promoting weekly iron-folic acid supplementation and biannual Albendazole intake, calling for substantial improvement.

Menstrual health and hygiene knowledge among post menarche adolescent school girls in urban and rural Tanzania.

Adolescent girls' capacity to lead healthy lives and perform well in school has been hampered by their lack of awareness about menstruation and the requirements for its hygienic management. Lack of enabling infrastructure, improper menstrual supplies, and limited socioeconomic support for good menstrual health and cleanliness are characteristics of schools in Africa South of the Sahara. We evaluated school-age girls' knowledge of menstrual hygiene and identified bottlenecks that could affect policy and programming for menstrual health and hygiene. A school-based cross-sectional study involved 8,012 adolescent school girls in the age group of 11-18 years (mean age = 14.9 years). The study evaluated students' knowledge of menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) from the viewpoints of schools and communities using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data was collected using self-administered surveys, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and site observations. Girls' older age (AOR = 1.62, P 0.001), having a female guardian (AOR = 1.39: P = 001), and having a parent in a formal job (AOR = 1.03: P 0.023) were positively associated with Menstrual health and Hygiene Knowledge. MHH knowledge levels varied significantly between girls attending government (53.3) and non-government schools (50.5%, P = 0.0001), although they were comparable for girls attending rural and urban schools. Only 21% of the study's schools had at least one instructor who had received training in MHH instruction for students. We have established that the majority of adolescent girls in schools have inadequate knowledge on menstrual health and hygiene, and that school teachers lack the skills to prepare and support young adolescents as they transition into puberty. Concerted actions aimed at building supportive policy are paramount, for school-aged teenagers to learn about and reap the long-term advantages of good menstrual health practices.

Menstrual hygiene management and menstrual problems among adolescent girls in an urban area in north India: A cross-sectional study.

Most adolescent women face many restrictions, which become much more severe during menstruation. In India, millions of adolescent girls drop out of school every year due to menstruation-related problems and restrictions. Despite extensive research, a paucity of literature was observed on the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of adolescent girls regarding menstruation. Hence, we proceeded to undertake the present study, to have a deeper understanding of the menstrual hygiene management of adolescents. To describe the menstrual hygiene management among adolescent school girls. (a) To examine the association, if any, between menstrual hygiene management and school absenteeism during menstruation in adolescent school girls. We conducted a school-based cross-sectional analytical study in an urban area in north India. The study population comprised adolescent school girls of all the high schools in the urban area. With a 95% confidence interval, and 5% margin of error, the sample size was calculated to be 369. However, an even larger sample size of 600 was actually studied. The probability proportional to size sampling approach was followed based on the number of adolescent girls in each school class/section. Participants were selected through a stratified proportionate sampling method. Ethical approval was obtained from the ethical committee of the district director of education of the urban area where the study was conducted before the commencement of the study. Confidentiality of the information collected was ensured. The data collected was quantitative in nature, using a pretested self-administered questionnaire consisting of both open-ended and close-ended questions. Data was checked for its completeness, coded, and entered into Microsoft Excel 2021 Spreadsheet. Subsequently, the data was imported into IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. for data analysis. Standard statistical methods were utilized for data analysis. The mean age (standard deviation [SD]) of the study participants was 13.68 (1.29). The mean age (SD) at menarche was 13.29 (0.96). Based on the overall menstrual hygiene management score, 377 (62.83%) of the study participants were engaged in good menstrual hygiene management, while 223 (37.17%) were engaged in poor menstrual hygiene management. The mean score (SD) was 7.80 (±0.43). Compared to those aged 17-19 years, those aged 10-13 years had a 0.36 (95% CI 0.17-0.75) decreased odds of good menstrual hygiene, while those aged 14-16 years had a 0.29 (95% CI 0.14-0.59) decreased odds of good menstrual hygiene. The adjusted odds ratios were 0.32 (95% CI 0.19-0.65) and 0.25 (95% CI 0.12-0.41) respectively. Out of 600 study participants, 229 (38.17%) reported school absenteeism at least once in the last 1 year because of menstruation. The mean (standard deviation) duration of school absenteeism was 2.4 (0.78) days per menstrual cycle. The commonest reason for menstruation-related school absenteeism was pain, wherein 105 (45.85%) study participants reported this reason. In our study, we observed that over two-thirds of the study participants were engaged in good menstrual hygiene practices, while ~40% of them reported menstrual-related school absenteeism. Our study also found evidence that the age of the school girls was associated with their menstrual hygiene management practices. We recommend further research on the impact of menstruation and its management on the academic performance of adolescent school girls. Efforts are also required to develop the capacity of teachers to teach menstrual hygiene education.

Perceptions, Beliefs, and Experiences about the Menstrual Cycle and Menstruation among Young Women: A Qualitative Approach.

The experience of menstruation is often associated with negative connotations and gender stereotypes, which results in making it invisible. This research aimed to explore the perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge of young Spanish women regarding the menstrual cycle and menstruation and their impact on their lives. The study delves into their understanding, menstrual management practices, the types of menstrual products employed, and their experiences related to menstrual health. Qualitative methodology was used with discussion groups as a data collection technique. The participants comprised 45 young Spanish women, aged between 18 and 23, hailing from both rural and urban areas. The majority were university students, with some engaged in part-time work, and one participant working full-time. While many experienced menstrual pain ranging from mild to debilitating, a normalization of this pain often led them to forego seeking specialist assistance. Disposable menstrual products (DMPs) are the most used by participants, despite limited awareness of their absorption capacity. Regarding reusable menstrual products (RMPs), menstrual cup users emphasized comfort but expressed a need for proper training. Negative menstruation experiences could evoke fear and difficulties, underscoring the importance of providing comprehensive menstrual health education encompassing both theoretical and practical components.

Menstrual health and hygiene amongst adolescent girls and women of reproductive age: a study of practices and predictors, Odisha, India

BackgroundMenstruation is a major physiological change in a woman’s life, but lack of knowledge, poor practices, socio-cultural barriers, poor access to products and their improper disposal have significant consequences on health, dignity and well-being of women and adolescent girls.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices related to menstrual health and hygiene amongst females of 10–49 years of age; explore the experiences and challenges of women during menstruation; and identify the key predictors of healthy menstrual health and hygiene.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional study design, we adopted a mixed methods approach for data collection. For quantitative household survey, a total of 921 respondents were selected from three districts of Odisha. Qualitative findings through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews supplemented the survey findings and helped to identify the barriers affecting good menstrual practices. Epi data version 2.5 and R 4.2.2 was used for data entry and data analysis, respectively. Descriptive statistics was used to calculate proportion, mean and standard deviation; Chi square test was used to measure the association between categorical variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistics analyses were done to identify predictors of healthy menstrual health and hygiene. For qualitative data analysis, thematic analysis approach was adopted using software Atlas.ti 8.ResultsFor 74.3% respondents, mothers were the primary source of information; about 61% respondents were using sanitary pad. The mean age at menarche was 12.9 years and almost 46% of respondents did not receive any information about menstruation before menarche. Lower age and education up to higher secondary level or above had statistically significant associations with the knowledge about menstruation. Age, caste, respondent’s education, mother’s education, sanitation facility, availability of water, accessibility and affordability for sanitary pads were found to be strongly associated with good menstrual hygiene practices.ConclusionTraditional beliefs regarding menstruation still persists at the community level. Educating mothers, increasing awareness about safe menstrual hygiene, providing adequate water and sanitation facilities and ensuring proper disposal of menstruation products need priority attention.

Utilization of modern menstrual methods and related unmet needs among college going women in Coimbatore district: a descriptive cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThe primary objectives were to determine the proportion of modern menstrual method (MMM) users among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu; and to estimate the unmet needs associated with use of MMMs in comparison with other menstrual hygiene methods (MHMs). We also assessed the factors that determine MMM use among college going women.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India between October 2022 and January 2023 using a purpose predesigned, pretested, semi-structured proforma that included validated Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS-36).ResultsOnly 1.4% of the study participants used MMMs – menstrual cups (1.3%) and tampons (0.1%). Sanitary pads were the most common MHM of choice (96.3%); of which majority (98.6%) used disposable pads and more than half (50.4%) used non-biodegradable pads. Importantly, one in six (16.5%) were not aware of nature of sanitary pads (biodegradable or nonbiodegradable) used. The unmet needs associated with MMMs (menstrual cups and tampons) were significantly lower than that for other MHMs (including sanitary pads), in particular, the unmet material and home environment needs, unmet material reliability concerns, unmet reuse needs and unmet reuse insecurity. However, we found no significant difference between MMMs, sanitary pads and other MHMs in terms of unmet transport, college environment, change and disposal insecurity needs. The significant predictors of use of MMMs were age (more than 21 years of age), residence (urban), type of stay (off campus including home), socioeconomic status (upper), fathers’ and mothers’ education (high school and above), and presence of personal income. Discussions with friends (or peers) both before and after menarche regarding menstruation resulted in higher adoption of modern menstrual methods.ConclusionMMMs provided comparative advantage with lesser unmet needs for material reliability and reuse insecurity concerns, particularly in home environment. However, none of the MHMs fulfilled the user expectations for transport and disposal insecurity concerns, particularly outdoors.

Social Awareness for Women’s Health: An Endline Study in Gazaria, Munshiganj, Bangladesh

Background: The “Social Awareness for Women’s Health: Gazaria Pilot” project aimed to address menstrual health awareness and distribute free sanitary napkins in the Gazaria region. This endline survey evaluates the project’s impact on menstrual health practices, knowledge, and socio-cultural barriers among women and girls. Objective: Baseline data highlighted critical challenges, including limited awareness about menstrual hygiene, widespread use of non-hygienic materials such as old cloths, and significant emotional distress associated with menstruation. Access to reliable menstrual health information was predominantly through informal channels, with cultural taboos further exacerbating the menstrual health crisis. Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to gather data from community members participating in the Gazaria Pilot project. Surveys were conducted to assess changes in health behaviors and attitudes, while interviews provided insights into community perceptions and experiences with project interventions. Findings: Following the project’s implementation, there was a notable improvement in menstrual hygiene practices. The use of disposable sanitary napkins increased from 5.99% at baseline to 15.36% at endline, reflecting enhanced access and acceptance of sanitary products. Additionally, knowledge about the risks of unclean menstrual practices and the benefits of personal hygiene saw significant gains, with awareness rising from 55.5% to 72.66% and from 62.0% to 75.78%, respectively. Menstruation has decreased emotional reactions, promoting mental well-being, but challenges persist like reliance on old cloths, lack of medical advice, and socio-cultural taboos affecting health behaviors. Conclusion: The project emphasizes the need for community-based interventions and sustained engagement to improve menstrual health outcomes in Gazaria, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts.

Menstrual hygiene management interventions and their effects on schoolgirls' menstrual hygiene experiences in low and middle countries: A systematic review.

Inadequate menstrual hygiene management can result in physical, social, psychological, and educational challenges for schoolgirls. To address these issues, researchers have conducted intervention studies, but the impact on school attendance has varied. This review has systematically collected and evaluated evidence about the effects of menstrual hygiene interventions on schoolgirls. A systematic search of the literature was done and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA statement). Both peer-reviewed journals and gray literature were searched using PubMed and Google Scholar. The search included individual, or cluster randomized controlled trials, and quasi-experimental studies, and covered the period from the date of indexing until January 3, 2023. A review of sixteen trial studies showed that menstrual hygiene interventions have a positive effect on schoolgirls' school attendance, performance, and dropout rates, as well as on their menstrual knowledge, attitudes, practices, and emotional well-being. There was a low to medium risk of bias in most of the studies. Additionally, the literature overlooked the impact of interventions that involve parental and male engagement, interventions correcting community misperceptions about menstruation, and the impact of infrastructure improvements on water, sanitation, and hygiene. Interventions aimed at improving menstrual hygiene management can enhance schoolgirls' educational outcomes, and can improve their menstrual knowledge, attitudes, and practices by helping them manage their periods more effectively. Most interventions have focused on the provision of menstrual products and menstrual education but have neglected improvements in the physical environment at home and school and the social norms surrounding menstruation. Trial studies should take a holistic approach that considers the total socio-cultural environment in which menstrual hygiene management takes place, thus enabling stakeholders and policymakers to develop sustainable, long-term solutions to these problems.

Menstrual hygiene management practice and associated factors among secondary school girls in eastern Ethiopia: The influence of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

Inadequate water supply, poor sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools, insufficient puberty education and a lack of hygienic menstrual hygiene management (MHM) items (absorbents) cause girls in developing countries like Ethiopia to view menstruation as shameful and uncomfortable. However, there was little evidence of female MHM practice and associated factors among secondary school girls in eastern Ethiopia. To assess MHM practice and associated factors among secondary school girls in eastern Ethiopia. Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted. A total of 473 secondary schoolgirls were selected using a stratified sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire, double-entered to Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Descriptive analysis was computed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviations. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to assess the association of the school water, sanitation and hygiene facilities with MHM. Adjusted odd ratio (AOR) with its 95% confidence interval was computed to show the strength of the association between dependent and independent variables. The goodness of fit of the model was tested by the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test. Out of 473 study participants, 72.93% of them (95% CI: 68.74-76.76) reported good MHM practices. The study also found that availability of continuous water supply (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI: (1.42-4.01)); types of toilet (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI: (1.20-3.40)), confined space (AOR = 3.02, 95% CI: (1.49-4.76)) and having females' toilets alone inside in the school (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: (1.20-4.40)) were significantly associated with female students' good MHM practice. The survey revealed that some of the secondary schoolgirls practiced poor menstrual hygiene management (MHM), which needs further improvement. The study also found that the availability of continuous water supply in the school, types of toilet facility in the school, availability of private space to manage periods at school, learning about MHM in schools and availability of female toilets kept locked inside were factors significantly associated with MHM practice of students, which require integration of Zonal Health and education bureau to jointly work towards the improvement of school WASH facilities.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Menstrual Hygiene among Adolescent Girls in Urban and Rural Schools of Belagavi - An Observational Study

Background Due to taboos and sociocultural constraints surrounding menstruation and menstrual practices teenage girls continue to be unaware of scientific facts and hygienic health practices about their periods which can result in adverse health effects in the future.Objective To compare menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in urban and rural areas of Belagavi.Methods This observational survey study which included 100 young adolescent high school girls aged 12-16 years as per inclusion and exclusion criteria was carried out in rural and urban schools in Belagavi. Data were collected using a menstrual hygiene management survey questionnaire regarding the knowledge practice and attitude towards menstrual hygiene.Results This observational survey study revealed that awareness and hygiene practices during menstruation were quite low in rural adolescent high school girls compared to urban adolescent high school girls.Conclusion This study concludes that practice knowledge and attitude towards menstrual hygiene was higher among adolescent girls in urban schools as compared to rural adolescent girls.

Tool-Kit Assisted Hygienic Menstrual Practices through Design Thinking of Social Innovation Course

Social problems have been a part of the society since ages and efforts to address them have been on practice along with. The evolution of knowledge society and the technology have enabled better ways of addressing such problems. In this context, the present study “ Design Thinking for Social Innovation” was undertaken by Freshman students of undergraduate engineering students to identify a relevant social challenge and address it with the aid of design thinking process. Inadequate awareness and education about hygienic menstrual practices is one such major but less discussed social problem among the various genderspecific issues. Despite the modern days advancement with digital tools and social media, social taboos, misbeliefs and unwarranted phobias pertaining to the phenomenon are widely prevalent in several sections of the society. The different phases of design thinking: Empathy, Define, Ideate and Prototype were employed for understanding the insights and different dimensions of the challenge. The different stakeholders of the challenge, possible ideas and solutions were generated through the process. Finally an organized solution in the form of designing an informative website and tool-kit containing the key menstrual products and their demonstration was implemented as part of solution. The stakeholders were educated about menstruation, hygienic menstrual practices and their myths were busted as part of the exercise. The student team gained an immersive experience of identifying and addressing a social challenge using design thinking process. Keywords— Design thinking; Empathy, Menstruation; Social innovation; Stakeholders

Knowledge and Practice Regarding Menstrual Hygiene among School Going Adolescents of Kohalpur Municipality

Background: Menstruation is still considered as stigma in our society. The talks and discussion regarding menstruation is not quite acceptable because of shame and fear. Therefore many girls and women have become the victim of sour incidents like diseases ,rape ,death ,depression etc. We made a small effort to access knowledge and practice regarding menstrual hygiene among school going adolescent girls of Kohalpur municipality through study. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted from June to September 2021 among 359 students from grade eight, nine and ten of 4 different schools of Kohalpur municipality. Semiopen questionnaire were prepared and analysis was done to access knowledge and practice regarding menstrual hygiene. Results: 90.3% females had adequate knowledge about menstrual hygiene while 9.75 % females had poor knowledge .Majority of females were engaged in good menstrual practices. Conclusions: Majority of females had adequate knowledge about menstrual hygiene but it has not being adequately brought into practices and the attitude of females towards menstrual hygiene is still unsatisfactory. As a result there is a need of awareness programs regarding menstrual hygiene and its management.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Adolescent Schoolgirls (10-19 Years) in the Saurashtra Region, Gujarat.

Background Menstrual health management proves pivotal for the adoption of hygienic practices and the embracement of womanhood from the onset of menarche. Menstrual hygiene is pivotal yet under-addressed among adolescent girls in India. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding menstrual hygiene and influencing factors. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 361 adolescent schoolgirls aged 10-19 years in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat using a pretested questionnaire. Multistage sampling was used. In the first stage, six schools (three rural and three urban) were selected through random sampling. In the second stage, all adolescent girls aged 10-19 years in the selected schools who had attained menarche were invited to participate. Those who provided written assent were included in the study. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results Knowledge about menstruation was evenly distributed as good (47.65%) and poor (52.35%). Most relied on mothers for information and considered menstruation a normal phenomenon. Attitudes reflected complex cultural perceptions. The use of sanitary pads was high (96.12%), although 39.89% used reused absorbents. Multivariate analysis revealed age 16-19 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14-3.81), higher parental education, pit latrine usage (AOR = 6.7, 95% CI = 2.97-15.15), and knowledge about menstruation (AOR = 8.21, 95% CI = 4.56-14.78) as positive predictors of good menstrual practices. Conclusions Despite the widespread use of sanitary pads, the persisting knowledge gap and sociocultural influences lead to unhygienic practices. Improving awareness and attitudes through educational interventions among adolescent girls and mothers, in particular, addressing cultural taboos through the engagement of all stakeholders, and improving sanitation infrastructure in schools are imperative.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Menstrual Health and Hygiene among Adolescent Girls

The goal of the study is to assess and improve Knowledge Attitude and Practice regarding Menstrual Health and Hygiene among study subject and to identify possible risk associated with unhygienic menstrual practices among study subject. An educational interventional study was carried out among 166 samples in selected schools and colleges of North Bengaluru. The data was collected by using self-designed content validated questionnaire and responses were recorded. All information’s were processed and analyzed by using Microsoft Excel. It was found that most of the subject’s knowledge towards menstruation was found to be improved after suitable intervention. As well as Attitude and Practice were also improved among study subjects. Menstrual hygiene practices can be improved by imparting appropriate educational interventional strategies and implementing various community awareness programs related to menstruation hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practice.