Awareness and Practices on Menstrual Hygiene Amongst Adolescent Girls in Rajkot District of Gujarat

Abstract

Correspondence : Abstract : The knowledge established about the physiology of menstruation and unhygienic practises at adolescent age of girls predispose them to life threatening reproductive tract infections, infertility and various menstruation related morbidity conditions. And the same knowledge and practise is usually followed by them throughout life and also passed on to the next generations. To study the knowledge about physiology of menstruation and related problems. To study the level of awareness about safe menstrual hygienic practices. A cross sectional study was done amongst 400 adolescent girls (school going and non school going but attending (Anganwadi Centre) from 4 villages of Rajkot district. Villages were selected randomly through multistage sampling technique. The mean age of respondent in the study was 14.90+-2.90 years. Majority of school going girls were educated between 9 to 11 standard. 73.25% girls were using clothes while 26.75% were using sanitary napkin. Physiology of menstruation was known to only 5.7% of school going girls. Source of bleeding was known to only 24% girls. Correct Knowledge about the age of menarche was present amongst 83.50% study girls. 99% girls practiced cleaning of genitals with water. Infection related awareness was present amongst 56.25% girls. Study results show that there is poor knowledge about physiology of menstruation source of bleeding at the time of menstrual period and RTI/STI associated with poor hygiene practice. There is adequate knowledge regarding age of menarche and menstrual hygiene practice is good.