A community based cross sectional study on menstrual hygiene awareness and practices among females of reproductive age group

Authors

  • Nitin Lodha Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine,GMERS Medical College, Vadnagar,Gujarat,India

Keywords:

Menstrual hygiene, awareness, reproductive age.

Abstract

Background: Good menstrual hygiene is essential for the health and dignity of women. Discussions on menstrual hygiene are important for women to clarify existing myths and misconceptions around menstruation. In developing countries it is reported that many women/girls do not follow healthy measures for maintaining the menstrual hygiene. Objectives: To study awareness regarding menstrual hygiene among the women of reproductive age and find out practice related to maintenance of menstrual hygiene. Material & Methods: It was a community based cross sectional study; 200 women of reproductive age were interviewed over a period of four months (March to June 2019). Data obtained was entered and analyzed statistically using Excel Windows 2007 and Epi info version6. Results: 162(81%) had regular menstrual cycle pattern, 14(7%) participant mostly from rural area, believe that menstruation is a disease, 140(70%) get the information regarding menstruation from mother. 188(94%) were aware about sanitary pads but 150(75%) uses sanitary pads. 86.5% participants change sanitary pads 2-3 times a day. All participants were taking regular about bath. 197(98.5%) were regularly cleaned their external genitals. 153(76.5%) study participants throwing the sanitary material in dustbin. Conclusion: Majority of the participants use sanitary pads and were aware about menstrual hygiene, but in rural area majority of participants still use clothes instead of sanitary material and they had lack awareness about hygiene practice and majority of them didn’t follow menstrual hygiene practices. Menstrual hygiene can be promoted in community and in schools particularly in Rural area.

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Published

2021-05-10

How to Cite

Nitin Lodha. (2021). A community based cross sectional study on menstrual hygiene awareness and practices among females of reproductive age group. International Journal of Health and Clinical Research, 4(9), 120–125. Retrieved from https://ijhcr.com/index.php/ijhcr/article/view/1511