J Krishi Vigyan 2019, 7 (2) : 234-238 DOI : 10.5958/2349-4433.2019.00038.

Study on Menstruation and Hygiene Practices among Adolescent

girls in Urban Community
Deepa Amgoth1 and R Geetha Reddy2
Department of Home Science Extension and Communication Management, Hyderabad,
Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Telangana 500 004 (Telangana)

ABSTRACT
Adolescence is a transition period from childhood to adult life during which pubertal development and sexual
maturation take place, thus making physiological development a challenge adolescents have to face. There is
a substantial lacuna in the knowledge towards menstruation among adolescent girls; hence, an attempt was
made to study menstruation and personal hygiene among adolescent girls of urban locality. Ex post facto
research design was used for the study. The locale of the study was Jadcherla town of Mahabubnagar district
in Telangana State. Sample size of 30 adolescent school going girls of age group 12 to 16 yrs. was purposively
selected. Structured questionnaire was used to examine the existing knowledge and hygiene practices
regarding menstruation. Frequency and percentage were used to analyse the collected data. Results revealed
that prior information about menstruation before its attainment was available to 80 per cent of the adolescent
girls in the present study. About 93 per cent of the respondents use sanitary pads during their periods which
show good hygiene practice during menstruation. About 67 per cent of the respondents do not have knowledge
about the organ from where bleeding occurs. Hence, awareness needs to be given to the respondents.
Key Words: Adolescence, Hygiene practices, Menstruation, Menarche, Pads, Periods, Taboos.

INTRODUCTION interrupted by menstruation. It ensures that you can

Adolescence is regarded, as a unique phase of continue with your daily routine such as going to
human development. It is a transitional phase of school, going to work or doing household chores.
growth and development between childhood and In this sense, maintaining proper menstrual hygiene
adulthood. In India, limited access to products of is important for your wellbeing and development.
sanitary hygiene and lack of safe sanitary facilities The present investigation was undertaken to study
could increase the likelihood of resorting to the profile characteristics, existing knowledge
unhygienic practices to manage menstruation. All about menstruation and menstrual health practices
myths and taboos such as not taking bath, avoiding followed by adolescent girls.
hot and cold foods, avoiding exercise, have no
scientific support, and need to be eliminated to release MATERIALS AND METHODS
menstruation anxiety among girls. An adolescent An ex-post facto research design was opted for
girl should be made aware of the phenomenon of the study in the urban area of Mahabubnagar district
menstruation before menarche, so as to enable her in Telangana state. The locale of the study was
to accept it as a normal developmental process and Jadcherla town of Mahabubnagar district. In this
manage it appropriately. study, samples comprising of 30 adolescent school
Menstrual hygiene and management can be going girls were selected falling in the th
age group of
th
essential in ensuring that your everyday life is not 12-16 yr. The respondents were of 9 and 10 std. of
Kakatiya Techno School. Structured questionnaire
Corresponding Author’s Email: [email protected]
1
M.Sc Scholar; 2Professor and Head, Department of Home Science Extension and Communication Management, Hyderabad, Professor
Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Telangana, India. [email protected]

234 J Krishi Vigyan 2019, 7 (2) : 234-238

 Amgoth and Reddy
was used by the investigator which included Table 1. Profile of the respondents.
general profile characteristics of the respondents.
Sr. Variable Respondents
The questionnaire had two areas which consist No. (N=30)
of existing knowledge regarding menstruation Number %
and hygiene practices during menstruation of the
1. Age
adolescent girls. Frequency and percentage were
12-13 yr. 8 27
used to analyse the collected data.
14 yr. 13 43
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 15-16 yr. 9 30
2. Type of family
Socio economic profile of the respondents
Nuclear 27 90
Majority 43 per cent of the adolescent girls
were in the age of 14 yr. The nuclear families of Joint 3 10
the respondents were 90 per cent and about 53 per 3. Income levels (Rs.)
cent of the respondents comprised of high income. Low(Below 60,000) 11 37
This factor may have an impact on the knowledge Medium(60,000-1,00,000) 3 10
and management of the situation in adolescent girls High(Above 1,00,000) 16 53
(Table 1). 4. Caste
It was observed that about 67 per cent of the Backward Caste 15 50
respondents did not have knowledge about the Scheduled Caste 1 3
organ from where bleeding occurs and 83 per cent Scheduled Tribe 1 3
of the respondents received prior information before Other Caste 13 44
menarche from their mothers (80 %). Hema et al Similarly, Ejik et al (2016) investigated on menstrual
(2017) studied about menstrual hygiene and related hygiene management among adolescent girls in
personal hygiene practices among adolescent girls India and concluded that strengthening of Menstrual
in rural Puducherry and reported that majority Health management (MHM) programmes in India
(89.2%) of the adolescent girls were using sanitary was needed. Education on awareness, access to
pads whereas 65.3 per cent girls changed their hygienic absorbents and disposal of MHM items
soaked absorbent 2-5 times in a day and unhygienic need to be addressed.
practices were noticed.
From the data (Table 3), it was observed that
Vyas et al (2017) investigated nutritional status about 77per cent of the adolescent girls received
and personal hygiene among adolescent girls menarche by the age of 12-14 yr. Majority (87%)
of rural Bikaner and revealed that anaemia was of the adolescent girls had regular menstrual cycle
common problem among adolescent girls in rural and 77per cent of the girls had normal flow of
area. However, the personal hygiene was good menstruation. About 93per cent of the adolescent
among adolescent girls. Kartik et al (2016) studied girls have 2-7 days of menstruation which showed
about knowledge and practices regarding menstrual that the respondents were healthy. About 93per
hygiene among urban adolescent girls in Bangalore. cent of the girls used sanitary pads as menstrual
They reported that 69 per cent of adolescent girls absorbent material but 70 per cent threw the used
were using sanitary napkins as menstrual absorbent menstrual absorbent in dustbin which showed that
but there is a need to equip the adolescent girls the urban living respondents were aware of good
with knowledge regarding safe, hygienic practices practices during menstruation.
to enable them to lead a healthy reproductive life.

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 Study on Menstruation and Hygiene Practices
Table 2.Existing knowledge about menstruation among adolescent girls.
Sr. No. Variable Respondents (N=30)
Number Percentage
1. Knowledge of organ from where bleeding occurs
Uterus 4 13
Kidney - -
Bladder 3 10
Stomach 3 10
Do not know 20 67
2. Menstrual blood contains dangerous substances
Yes 7 23
No 23 77
3. Pregnant women menstruate
Yes 3 10
No 27 90
4. Received any information prior menarche
Yes 25 83
No 5 17
5. Source of information (before menarche)
Mother 24 80
Sister 1 3
Friends and relatives 4 14
Teachers 1 3

Table 3. Menstrual health practices among adolescent girls.

Sr. No. Variable Respondents (N=30)
Number Percentage

1. Age at menarche
<12 yr. 5 17
12-14 yr. 23 77
>14 yr. 2 6
2. Menstrual cycle
Regular 26 87
Irregular 4 13
3. Duration of menstrual flow in days
<2 2 7
2-7 28 93
>7 - -

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 Amgoth and Reddy

4. Amount of menstruation
Scanty 3 10
Normal 23 77
Excess 4 3
5. Passage of clots
Yes 11 37
No 19 63
6. Experience at Menarche
Confusing 9 30
Expectant 12 40
Frightened 9 30
7. Type of absorbent used during menstruation
Pads 28 93
Fresh cloth 2 7
Reusable cloth - -
8. Number of times absorbent changed (per day)
<2 times 12 40
2-5 times 7 23
>5 times 1 3
As per need 10 34
9. Daily bath
Yes 28 93
No 2 7
10. Disposal of used menstrual absorbent
Dust bin 21 70
Wash and reuse - -
Burn/ bury 6 20
Flush in toilet 3 10
11. Cleaning of genital area (per day)
<3 times 7 23
>3 times 18 60
During bath 3 10
During micturition 2 7
12. Agent used for cleaning purpose
Only water 8 27
Soap and water 16 53
Dettol 6 20
Others - -
13. Sharing of information about your menstrual health
Mother 20 67

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 Study on Menstruation and Hygiene Practices

Sister 3 10
Friend 7 23
Teacher - -
Other - -
14. In a normal month days missed during period
I don’t miss 22 73
<2 6 20
2-4 2 7
>4 - -

CONCLUSION adolescent school girls, certain components are not

The main problematic areas identified in this being practiced. Strategies such as access to water,
study were poor knowledge of menstruation, and sanitation, hygiene of external genitalia and access
hygiene practice in few areas like burning and to covered toilets are still deficient and it plays a
burying of the absorbent used during menstruation major role to adopt safe practices.
and even few respondents did not change the
absorbent frequently. This study has highlighted REFERENCES
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Received on 26/01/2019 Accepted on 15/03/2019

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