Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research

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Online ISSN: 2394-2754

CODEN : IJOGCS

Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research (IJOGR) open access, peer-reviewed quarterly journal publishing since 2014 and is published under auspices of the Innovative Education and Scientific Research Foundation (IESRF), aim to uplift researchers, scholars, academicians, and professionals in all academic and scientific disciplines. IESRF is dedicated to the transfer of technology and research by publishing scientific journals, research content, providing professional’s membership, and conducting conferences, seminars, and award more...

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Get Permission Baruah: Knowledge and practice on menstrual hygiene among girl students of Balika Vidya Mandir School, Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam


Introduction

Hygiene is a series of practices performed to preserve health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases.1

Menstruation is a phenomenon unique to the females (WHO, 2003).2 Menarche is defined as the first menstrual period in a female adolescent occurs between the ages of 10 and 16, with the average age of onset being 12.4 years. Menstruation is a natural fact of life and a monthly occurrence for the 1.8 billion girls, women, transgender men and non-binary persons of reproductive age. Yet millions of menstruates across the world are denied the right to manage their monthly menstrual cycle in a dignified, healthy way.3

Menstruation is still regarding as something unclean or dirty in Indian Society. The reaction to menstruation depends upon awareness and knowledge about the subject. The manner in which a girl learns about menstruation and its associated changes may have an impact on her repose to the event of menarche.4 Menstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon for females indicating her capability for procreation. However, this normal phenomenon is not an easy one for every growing young girl. Menstruation has often been associated with the some degree of sufferings and embarrassment by the society.3

Many adolescent girls face stigma, harassment and social exclusion during menstruation. Transgender men and non-binary persons also face discrimination due to their gender identity, depriving them of access to the materials and facilities they need.5 Gender inequality, discriminatory social norms, cultural taboos, poverty and lack of basic services like toilets and sanitary products can all cause menstrual health and hygiene needs to go unmet.6

Adolescent girls belong to vital age group, not only because they are the entrant population to motherhood but also because they are threshold between childhood and motherhood.7

Soiled menstrual blood products serve as breeding grounds for pathogens such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus and E. coli. These bacteria can proliferate quickly in the reproductive system, beginning with the cervix and progressing higher. In many parts of India, menstruation and everything related to it is still a taboo and women are treated differently when on periods.8 This is the reason why several menstruating females in India don't have access to proper menstrual hygiene products. It is quite concerning as it makes women prone to many severe and fatal diseases because of poor menstrual practices.9

The girls should be educated about the menstruation and, its importance and hygiene maintenance; to enable them to lead to a healthy reproductive life in the future.10 Therefore, the researcher of the present study decided to conduct a study on knowledge and practice on menstrual hygiene among the girl students of Balika Vidya Mandir School, Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam.

Material and Methods

Research approach

Quantitative research approach.

Research design

Descriptive research design.

Setting of the study

The present study was conducted in Balika Vidya Mandir School, Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam.

Variable of the study

Independent variable: knowledge and practice on menstrual hygiene among girl students of Balika Vidya Mandir School, Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam.

Selected demographic variables: Age of girl student, age at menarche, type of family, religion, education of mother, occupational status of father and mother, family income, prior information.

Population of the study

The girl students of class VIII, IX, X of Balika Vidya Mandir School, Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam.

Accessible population

The girl students of class VIII, IX, X of Balika Vidya Mandir School, Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam, who fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were present at the time of data collection.

Sample

60 girl students i.e 20 students of each class VIII, IX and X of Balika Vidya Mandir School, Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam, who were present at the time of data collection and gave consent to participate in the present study.

Sample size

60.

Sampling technique

Under the probability sampling technique, simple random lottery method was used to select the subjects for the present study.

Development and description of tool

Part 1: Demographic Performa: Age, age at menarche, type of family, religion, education of mother, occupational of the mother, occupation of the father, income, information received on menstruation hygiene.

Part 2: A self- structured validated questionnaire consisting of 14 questions to assess the knowledge on menstrual hygiene and a checklist consisting of 14 statements on practice of menstrual hygiene to assess the hygiene practice were used to collect data. 1 Mark is given for each correct option and 0 mark for each incorrect option. Total score is 14.

Scoring: The level of knowledge and practice were divided into adequate, Moderate and inadequate by using the formula mean+SD

>Mean + SD = Adequate

Between Mean + SD & Mean- SD= Moderate

< Mean-SD = Inadequate

Data collection procedure

Obtaining formal written permission from the principal of Balika Vidya Mandir School, Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam data was collected from 60 students of class VIII, IX, X of Balika Vidya Mandir School, Digboi, Tinsukia, Assam selected through simple random lottery method. After explaination of the purpose of the study written consent was taken from each sample for data collection. self-structured questionnaires to assess knowledge and checklist to assess practice on menstrual hygiene was introduced. It took around 30 minutes for each class to complete the questionnaire and completed questionnaire was collected in the same sitting.

Plan for data analysis

Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyses the data.

Result

The finding of the study were arranged and analyzed under the following sections.

Section 1: Findings of the selected demographic variables of the girl students i.e. age of girl students, age at menarche, type of family, religion, education of mother, occupational status of father, occupational status of mother, family income and information received on menstruation hygiene.

Table 1

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to their age. (N=60)

Age

Frequency

Percentage

12-13 years

5

8%

14-15 years

43

72%

16-17 years

12

20%

Table 1 shows that maximum 72% (43) of girl students belong to 14-15 years of age group, 20% (12) girls belongs to 16-17 years of age group and 8%(5) girls students belong to 12-13 years of age group.

Table 2

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to their age at menarche. (N=60)

Age

Frequency

Percentage

9 - 12 years

23

38%

13 - 14 years

33

55%

15 - 16 years

4

7%

Table 2 shows that majority 13-14 yrs of age, 38% (23) attained menarche at 9-12 years and 7% (4) attained menarche at 15-16 years.

Table 3

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to their type of family. (N=60)

Type of family

Frequency

Percentage

Nuclear

35

58%

Joint

18

30%

Extended

7

12%

Table 4 shows that maximum 58% (35) girl students are from Nuclear family, 30%(18) girl students are from joint family and 12%(7) girl students are from extended family.

Table 4

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to their religion. (N=60)

Religion

Frequency

Percentage

Hinduism

55

92%

Muslim

5

8%

Table 4 shows that majority i.e 92% (55)girl students belongs to Hinduism and 8% (5) girl students are belongs to Muslim.

Table 5

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to the education of their mother (N= 60)

Education of the mother

Frequency

Percentage

No formal Education

4

7%

Primary school

43

72%

Secondary school

10

17%

Graduate and above

3

5%

Table 5 shows that 72% (43) girl student’s mothers have education of primary school, 17%(10) girl student’s mothers have education of Secondary school, 7%(4) girl student’s mothers have no formal education and 5%(3) girl student’s mothers have education of graduate and above.

Table 6

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to their occupational status of father (N=60)

Occupational status of father

Frequency

Percentage

Business

24

40%

Farmer

3

5%

Daily wager/Labour

21

35%

Employed in private organization

8

13.33%

Govt. employed

3

5%

Unemployed

1

1.67%

Table 6 shows that majority i.e.40% (24) girl student’s of fathers are having occupation as business, 35% (21) girl student’s fathers are having occupation as daily wager/labour, 13.33% (8) girl student’s fathers are employed in private organization, 5% (3) girl student’s fathers are having occupation as farmer, 5% (3) girl student’s fathers are having occupation as Govt.employee and 2% (1) girl student’s fathers are unemployed.

Table 7

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to their occupational status of mother (N=60)

Occupational status of mother

Frequency

Percentage

Business

1

2%

Housewife

54

90%

Daily wager/Labour

2

3%

Govt. Employed

3

5%

Table 7 shows that 90%(54) girl student’s mother’s occupation is housewife, 5%(3) girl student’s mother’s occupation is Govt. Employed, 3%(2) girl student’s mother’s occupation is Daily wager/Labour and 2% (1) girl student’s mother’s occupation is business.

Table 8

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to theirfamily income. (N=60)

Family income per annum

Frequency

Percentage

<10000/-

33

55%

10001-15000/-

3

5%

15001/-

24

40%

Table 8 shows that majority i.e. 55% (33) of the girl students’ family income is less than Rs 10,000/- per annum, 40%(24) of the girl students’ family income is less than Rs 15,001/- per annum and 5% (3) of the girl students’ family income is in between Rs 10,001-15,000/- per annum.

Table 9

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to their information received on menstruation hygiene (N=60)

Any prior information

Frequency

Percentage

Family members

48

80%

Friends

4

7%

No information

8

13%

Table 9 shows that majority of the girl students i.e. 80% (48) use to receive information on menstruation hygiene from family members, 13% (8) of the girl students used to receive no information on menstruation hygiene and 7% (4) of the girl students use to receive information on menstruation hygiene from friends.

Section 2: Findings of the level of knowledge and level of practice scores on menstrual hygiene among the girl students of Balika Vidya Mandir School, Digboi.

Table 10

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to their level of knowledge on menstrual hygiene (N=60)

Adequate

Moderately adequate

Inadequate

Knowledge

8%(5)

82% (49)

10% (6)

Table 10 shows that majority of the girl students i.e. 82% (49) had moderately adequate knowledge, 10% (6) of the girl students had inadequate knowledge, 8%(5) of the girl students had moderately adequate knowledge on menstrual hygiene.

Table 11

Frequency & percentage distribution of girl students according to their practice score on menstrual hygiene (N=60)

Adequate

Moderately adequate

Inadequate

Practice

8% (5)

75% (45)

17% (10)

Table 11 shows that majority i.e. 75% (45) of the girl students had moderately adequate practice on menstrual hygiene, 17% (10) of the girl students had inadequate practice on menstrual hygiene, 8% (5) of the girl students had adequate practice on menstrual hygiene.

Section 3: Association between knowledge and demographic variables and association between practice and demographic variables on menstrual hygiene among the girl students.

Table 12

Association between knowledge on menstrual hygiene and demographic variables (N=60)

Demographic Variable

Sub-categories

Chi-square (X2)

df

Tabulated value (p= 0.05)

Remarks

Age of girl students

12-13 years

9.537

4

9.49

Significant

14-15 years

16-17 years

Age at menarche

9-12 years

5.284

4

9.49

Not significant

13-14 years

15-16 years

Type of family

Nuclear Joint Extended

0.998

4

9.49

Not significant

Religion

Hindu

0.984

2

5.99

Not significant

Muslim

Education of the mother

No formal education Primary secondary Graduate and post graduate

3.853

6

12.59

Not significant

Occupational status of father

Business Farmer Daily wager Employed in private organization Govt. Employee Unemployed

8.492

10

18.31

Not significant

Occupational status of mother

Business Housewife Daily wager Govt. employee Employed in private organization

1.181

Not significant

Family income

< Rs 10,000/-

11.951

Significant

Rs 10,001-15,000/-

>Rs 15,001/-

Information received on menstruation hygiene.

Family members Friends No information

6.008

Not significant

Table 12 show that there is no significant association between knowledge on menstrual hygiene and demographic variables of age at menarche, type of family, religion, education of the mother, occupational status of father, occupational status of mother and information received on menstruation hygiene except age of the girl students and family income.

Table 13

Association between practice on menstrual hygiene and demographic variables (N=60)

Demographic

variable

Sub- categories

Chi-square

(X2)

df

Tabulated

Value (p=0.05)

Remarks

Age of girl

students

12-13 years

4.763

4

9.49

Not

Significant

14-15 years

16-17 years

Age at

menarche

9-12 years

4.55

4

9.49

Not

Significant

13-14 years

15-16 years

Type of family

Nuclear joint

Extended

0.551

4

9.49

Not

Significant

Religion

Hindu

7.76

2

5.99

Significant

Muslim

Education of the mother

No formal education primary

9.04

6

12.59

Not

Significant

Secondary

Graduate and post graduate

Secondary

Occupational status of father

Business Farmer Daily wager Employed in private organization

Govt. employee

Unemployed

16.21

10

18.31

Not significant

Occupational status of mother

Business Housewife Daily wager Govt. employee

Employed in private organization

7.89

8

15.51

Not significant

Family

income

<Rs 10,000/-

14.09

4

9.49

Significant

Rs 10,001/-

15000/->

Information received on menstruation hygiene

Family members

4.96

4

9.49

Not

significant

Friends

No information

Table 13 shows that there is no significant association between practice and demographic variables of age of the girl, age at menarche, type of family, education of the mother, occupational status of father, occupational status of mother, and information received on menstruation hygiene except religion and family income.

Discussion

From the first objectives of the study it was found that majority of girl students i.e. 72% (43) were between age group of 14-15 years, 55% (33) attained menarche at the age of 13-14 years, 58% (35) are from nuclear family, 92% (55) belongs to Hinduism, 72% (43) of girl students had education of mother up to the primary level, 40%(24) of girl student’s fathers had occupation as business, 90%(54) of girl student’s mothers were housewife, 55%(33) had family income of Rs. 10,000/-, 80%(48) had information received on menstruation hygiene through family members.

From the second objectives to assess the level of knowledge and level of practice scores on menstrual hygiene it was revealed that majority 82%(49) girl students had moderately adequate knowledge, 10% (6) had inadequate knowledge and only 8% (5) had adequate knowledge on menstrual hygiene. Findings related to the practice on menstrual hygiene it was revealed that majority 75% (45) girl students had moderately adequate practice, 17(10) had inadequate practice and only 8%(5) had adequate practice on menstrual hygiene.

The findings of the present study related to age of menarche, knowledge level on menstrual hygiene and practice on menstrual hygiene was similar to the findings of the study conducted by Pranjal Sonowal and Kaushik Talukdar where it was found that the mean age of menarche in the study group was 12.53 ± 1.235 years. Only 49.3% girls were aware of menstruation before menarche. More than four fifth of the girls were not aware of the cause and 72% did not know the source of bleeding. 76.7% study population used sanitary pad only while 15.3% used both cloth and sanitary napkins during the time of menstruation.9

From the third objectives to assess the association between knowledge on menstrual hygiene and demographic variables of the girl students it was revealed that there is significant association between knowledge and age of girl students and family income. To assess the association between practice on menstrual hygiene and demographic variables of the girl students it was revealed that there is significant association between religion and family income of the family.

The findings of the present study also similar to the findings of the study conducted by Soraya Siabani et al. where it was found that the Participants’ mean age and menarche age were (14.6±1.4 years), and (12.5±1.0 years), respectively. About 92% had relatively positive attitude, 64% had poor knowledge and 81% expressed a poor practice toward menstruation. Mothers (37.4%) were the main source of information for most participants. Age (r=0.360), family income (r=0.186), and the source of information (r=0.112) were significantly positively associated with their level of knowledge. Participants 'practice regarding menstruation was significantly associated with age and mother's education (P ≤ 0.05).11

The findings regarding practice on menstrual hygiene of the present also supported by the study conducted by Sapkota Diksha et al. where it was found that traditional beliefs regarding menstruation still persist and menstrual hygiene among the adolescents was found to be unsatisfactory.12

Conclusion

Menstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon for females indicating her capability for procreation. However, this normal phenomenon is not an easy one for every growing young girl. Therefore, it is very important and mandatory for every growing young girl to have knowledge regarding the maintenance of menstrual hygiene and practice in the future. Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:

  1. The girls students had moderate knowledge and practice on menstrual hygiene.

  2. There was significant association between knowledge and age of girl student and family income.

  3. There was significant association between practice and family income and religion.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

References

1 

Hygiene: Overview2020World Health Organization (WHO)https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/hygieneRetrieved 29 January 2020

2 

A Dasgupta M Sarkar Menstrual Hygiene: How Hygienic is the Adolescent Girl?Indian J Community Med20083327780

3 

A Mahajan K Kaushal A descriptive study to assess the knowledge and practice regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls of Government School of Shimla, Himachal PradeshCHRISMED J Health Res20174299103

4 

A Dasgupta M Sarkar Menstrual Hygiene: How Hygienic is the Adolescent Girl?Indian J Community Med20083327780

5 

JMW Hughto SL Reisner JE Pachankis Transgender Stigma and Health: A Critical Review of Stigma Determinants, Mechanisms, and InterventionsSoc Sci Med201514722231

8 

S Garg T Anand Menstruation related myths in India: strategies for combating itJ Family Med Prim Care2015421846

9 

P Sonowal K Talukdar Menstrual Hygiene Knowledge and Practices amongst Adolescent Girls in Urban Slums of Dibrugarh Town- A Cross Sectional Study Galore International Journal of Health Sciences and ResearchGalore Int J Health Sci Res2019414451

10 

TN Deshpande SS Patil SB Gharai SR Patil PM Durgawale Menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls – A study from urban slum areaJ Family Med Prim Care201876143945

11 

S Siabani Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Regarding Menstruation among School Girls in West of Iran: A Population Based Cross-Sectional Study Int J Pediatr2018610.22038/IJP.2018.28633.2495

12 

S Diksha Knowledge and practices regarding menstruation among school going adolescents of rural NepalJ Kathmandu Med Coll2013231228



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Article type

Original Article


Article page

408-414


Authors Details

Aparajita Phukan Baruah*


Article History

Received : 26-06-2023

Accepted : 14-07-2023


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