Menstrual Hygiene Awareness and Management: Still a Challenge for Indian Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Background and objective: Menstruation is still considered as something to be ashamed of and to hide, and is consequently ignored in families, schools and community. In order to explore more in this area, present study was envisioned to identify the challenges of menstruation faced by adolescent girls of Vadodara city, Gujarat. Materials and method: Prospective study was conducted in 150 adolescent girls (13-19 yrs.), from rural area, urban area and medical students. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted regarding menstrual hygiene practices, management and other hindering factors of menstruation. Results: 82% of the rural girls were using cloth and 56% were reusing the same cloth, only 60% girls knew the proper method of disposal. Even 50% rural girls knew the proper method of maintaining genital hygiene. Major restriction for them was not allowing in temple and Kitchen. 3 girls from rural area were forced to leave the school after menarche. School absenteeism was also significantly more in rural girls. While in urban and medical girls 88% girls were using Pad and were 92% were disposing the pad properly. Surprisingly 62% medical girls were cleaning the genitalia with plain water and 12% didn’t knew the cause and origin of menarche. Conclusion: A lot is done to educate rural adolescent girls through MHM program regarding menstrual hygiene, but still more efforts are needed to improve the menstrual hygiene practices. Author also suggests the awareness programs for better menstrual hygiene should to be the part of school curriculum with strict monitoring.