Menstrual hygiene: How hygienic is the adolescent girl?
<b>Background:</b> Menstruation and menstrual practices are still clouded by taboos and socio-cultural restrictions resulting in adolescent girls remaining ignorant of the scientific facts and hygienic health practices, which sometimes result into adverse health outcomes. <b> Obje...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2008-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Community Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijcm.org.in/article.asp?issn=0970-0218;year=2008;volume=33;issue=2;spage=77;epage=80;aulast=Dasgupta |
| _version_ | 1818289303764074496 |
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| author | Dasgupta A Sarkar M |
| author_facet | Dasgupta A Sarkar M |
| author_sort | Dasgupta A |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> Menstruation and menstrual practices are still clouded by taboos and socio-cultural restrictions resulting in adolescent girls remaining ignorant of the scientific facts and hygienic health practices, which sometimes result into adverse health outcomes. <b> Objectives:</b> (i) To elicit the beliefs, conception and source of information regarding menstruation among the study population and (ii) to find out the status of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 adolescent girls of a secondary school situated in the field practice area of Rural Health Unit and Training Center, Singur, West Bengal, with the help of a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Data were analyzed statistically by simple proportions. <b> Results:</b> Out of 160 respondents, 108 (67.5%) girls were aware about menstruation prior to attainment of menarche. Mother was the first informant regarding menstruation in case of 60 (37.5%) girls. One hundred and thirty-eight (86.25%) girls believed it as a physiological process. Seventy-eight (48.75%) girls knew the use of sanitary pad during menstruation. Regarding practices, only 18 (11.25%) girls used sanitary pads during menstruation. For cleaning purpose, 156 (97.5%) girls used both soap and water. Regarding restrictions practiced, 136 (85%) girls practised different restrictions during menstruation. <b> Conclusions:</b> Menstrual hygiene, a very important risk factor for reproductive tract infections, is a vital aspect of health education for adolescent girls. Educational television programmes, trained school nurses/health personnel, motivated school teachers and knowledgeable parents can play a very important role in transmitting the vital message of correct menstrual hygiene to the adolescent girl of today. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T02:10:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-229e61c13deb465081e7b9ec141e247c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0970-0218 1998-3581 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T02:10:08Z |
| publishDate | 2008-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Community Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-229e61c13deb465081e7b9ec141e247c2022-12-22T00:03:01ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Community Medicine0970-02181998-35812008-01-013327780Menstrual hygiene: How hygienic is the adolescent girl?Dasgupta ASarkar M<b>Background:</b> Menstruation and menstrual practices are still clouded by taboos and socio-cultural restrictions resulting in adolescent girls remaining ignorant of the scientific facts and hygienic health practices, which sometimes result into adverse health outcomes. <b> Objectives:</b> (i) To elicit the beliefs, conception and source of information regarding menstruation among the study population and (ii) to find out the status of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 adolescent girls of a secondary school situated in the field practice area of Rural Health Unit and Training Center, Singur, West Bengal, with the help of a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Data were analyzed statistically by simple proportions. <b> Results:</b> Out of 160 respondents, 108 (67.5%) girls were aware about menstruation prior to attainment of menarche. Mother was the first informant regarding menstruation in case of 60 (37.5%) girls. One hundred and thirty-eight (86.25%) girls believed it as a physiological process. Seventy-eight (48.75%) girls knew the use of sanitary pad during menstruation. Regarding practices, only 18 (11.25%) girls used sanitary pads during menstruation. For cleaning purpose, 156 (97.5%) girls used both soap and water. Regarding restrictions practiced, 136 (85%) girls practised different restrictions during menstruation. <b> Conclusions:</b> Menstrual hygiene, a very important risk factor for reproductive tract infections, is a vital aspect of health education for adolescent girls. Educational television programmes, trained school nurses/health personnel, motivated school teachers and knowledgeable parents can play a very important role in transmitting the vital message of correct menstrual hygiene to the adolescent girl of today.http://www.ijcm.org.in/article.asp?issn=0970-0218;year=2008;volume=33;issue=2;spage=77;epage=80;aulast=DasguptaAdolescent girlmenstrual hygienereproductive tract infectionsRTIsanitary pad |
| spellingShingle | Dasgupta A Sarkar M Menstrual hygiene: How hygienic is the adolescent girl? Indian Journal of Community Medicine Adolescent girl menstrual hygiene reproductive tract infections RTI sanitary pad |
| title | Menstrual hygiene: How hygienic is the adolescent girl? |
| title_full | Menstrual hygiene: How hygienic is the adolescent girl? |
| title_fullStr | Menstrual hygiene: How hygienic is the adolescent girl? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Menstrual hygiene: How hygienic is the adolescent girl? |
| title_short | Menstrual hygiene: How hygienic is the adolescent girl? |
| title_sort | menstrual hygiene how hygienic is the adolescent girl |
| topic | Adolescent girl menstrual hygiene reproductive tract infections RTI sanitary pad |
| url | http://www.ijcm.org.in/article.asp?issn=0970-0218;year=2008;volume=33;issue=2;spage=77;epage=80;aulast=Dasgupta |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dasguptaa menstrualhygienehowhygienicistheadolescentgirl AT sarkarm menstrualhygienehowhygienicistheadolescentgirl |