A Study of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Menstrual Health among Adolescent Girls in North Goa
Abstract
Introduction: Menstruation and menstrual practices are still bound by social and cultural restrictions and taboos resulting in ignorance among adolescent girls regarding scientific facts and proper menstrual hygiene practices. The issue of poor menstrual hygiene has been inadequately addressed in our society. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices followed by adolescent girls in a higher secondary school in North Goa.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 236 adolescent girls studying in XI and XII standards of Science, Commerce and Arts streams of a Higher Secondary School in Bardez Taluka of North Goa. The study participants were interviewed using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22 and descriptive statistics was used to analyze and present the data.
Results: A total of 236 adolescent girls were included in the study. More than half i.e. 130 (55%) of the study participants had heard about menstruation prior to attaining menarche. The source of information among 217 (92%) of them was their mother. The most common custom followed by 109 (46%) study participants was restricted entry to Pooja room and restricted access to Holy scriptures during menstruation. As much as 17 (7%) of the girls regularly used cloth as an absorbent during their periods. 52 (22%) of them reported that they missed school during menses due to various reasons like fear of staining, pain, vomiting, and sometimes lack of proper toilet facility in schools.
Conclusion: The study findings revealed that menstrual hygiene was satisfactory among most of the study participants. A few of the study participants were poorly informed about the various aspects of menstruation and menstrual hygiene which should be addressed through extensive information education communication as well as behaviour change communication. Mass media and peer educators can be utilized to bring about an improvement in the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls.
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