Awareness and Practices Related to Menstrual  Hygiene and Associated Problems in Adolescent  Girls Residing in Tea Garden Areas of Jorhat,  Assam, India

Hiyeswar  Borah; Mousumi  Krishnatreya; Nibir  Nath Sarma

Hiyeswar Borah Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Nagaon Medical College, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Mousumi Krishnatreya Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Nagaon Medical College, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Nibir Nath Sarma Demonstrator, Department of Community Medicine, Nagaon Medical College, Nagaon, Assam, India.

Keywords: Adolescent Girls, Awareness, Menstrual Hygiene, Practices, Sanitary Pad, Tea Garden Dwellers

Abstract

Introduction: In India, menstrual hygiene practices are clouded by underlying taboos and socio-cultural restrictions for adolescent girls and women. Evidence suggests that limited access to sanitary hygiene
products and a lack of safe hygienic facilities decrease school attendance and contribute to local infections. The awareness regarding various health aspects among the population in tea garden areas in Assam is still poor. Considering the above, this study was conducted among adolescent girls in tea garden areas of Assam.
Objective: To assess the awareness and practices of menstrual hygiene and its related health problems in adolescent girls in tea garden areas.
Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2019 to March 2020 in the tea gardens of Jorhat, Assam. The sample size of 333 was taken from 9 tea gardens randomly.
Results: Awareness of menstruation before attainment of menstruation was found in 35.14%. The majority (77.48%) of girls were using sanitary pads during their menstruation; 36.90% experienced abdominal pain,
24.90% had clot blood, and 19.80% had excessive bleeding. A significant association (p < 0.050) was found between awareness and use of sanitary pads and the educational qualification of adolescents.
Conclusion: The awareness regarding menstruation and sanitary practice was unsatisfactory among adolescent girls. The adolescents must be made aware to adopt proper ways to maintain menstrual hygiene.
Literacy needs to be increased among adolescent girls in tea garden areas in Jorhat, Assam to achieve better menstrual hygiene.

How to cite this article:
Borah H, Krishnatreya M, Sarma N N. Awareness
and Practices Related to Menstrual Hygiene and
Associated Problems in Adolescent Girls Residing
in Tea Garden Areas of Jorhat, Assam, India. Ind
J Youth Adol Health. 2024;11(2):9-14.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2349.2880.202405

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