Study of knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene and attitude & practices regarding use & disposal of sanitary pads among adolescent girls in field practice area of CIMS, Bilaspur (C.G.)

Dr. Vijay Kumar Manwani; Dr. Minu Keshkar; Dr Shakuntala Jitpure

Volume : VIII, Issue : XII, December - 2019

Study of knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene and attitude & practices regarding use & disposal of sanitary pads among adolescent girls in field practice area of CIMS, Bilaspur (C.G.)

Dr. Vijay Kumar Manwani, Dr. Minu Keshkar, Dr Shakuntala Jitpure

Abstract :

Background– Menstruation holds a stigma in our Indian society. Isolation of the menstruating girls and restrictions being imposed on them in the family, have reinforced a negative attitude towards the phenomenon. There is a substantial lacuna in the knowledge about sexual and reproductive health among adolescent girls. Social prohibitions have blocked the access of adolescent girls to the right kind of information Unhygienic practices during menstruation endanger the reproductive health and expose them to RTls / PIDs.Menstrual hygiene and management will directly contribute to MDG–2 on universal education, MDG–3 on gender equality and women empowerment. Objectives– 1. To assess the knowledge about menstruation 2. To study the perception and practices related to menstruation and menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls3.To create awareness about menstrual hygiene & use and disposal of sanitary pads among adolescent girls. Methodology– Study Design: School based cross–sectional study Study Setting: Devkinandan nagar nigam girls higher secondary school &Shaheed Avinash senior secondary school.Study Participant: 9th – 11th students. Study Period: 15th September – 15th December 2018.Study Tools &Techniques: A predesigned, pretested structured questionnaire was used in the study. Collection of Data: Data collection was done by asking pre–designed and pre–tested questionnaire to the girls in their local language. Data Analysis: Data was entered in MS excel sheet and analysis of data was done by using Epi–info software. Data was presented in the form of tables and charts after the statistical analysis. Results: – It can be said that among the adolescent school girls in both the schools, the knowledge on menstruation is poor and the practices are often not optimal for proper hygiene. Results of our study indicate that students had substantial doubts about menstruation and were influenced by societal myths and taboos in relation to menstrual practices.