INTRODUCTION:

Menstruation is a natural biological process which is often recognized as a period of change from adolescence to womanhood. Despite this, millions of adolescent women worldwide are denied the right to control their menstrual cycle in a dignified and healthy manner. To ensure healthy and dignified menstruation, Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) has received particular attention from the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)¹

Adolescent women are often inexperienced in MHM. They lack adequate and correct knowledge about their bodies, especially the reproductive system and its working, given the social prohibitions on discussing these issues. They also lack the disposable income to buy hygienic menstrual products. Inability to manage menstrual hygiene can have serious consequences for their physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as their social development and educational attainment. Therefore, managing menstrual health and hygiene among adolescent women is a major public health concern for policymakers in low- and middle-income countries, including India.¹

Millions of adolescent girls in India drop out of school every year due to restrictions on mobility, a lack of restrooms and disposal facilities in schools, and fear or shame caused by the odour and stains of menstrual blood. The situation is further worsened by the widespread ignorance around puberty and menstruation, the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, and the absence of adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, leading to poor menstrual hygiene practices².

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

A few studies in recent years have sought to explore the knowledge, attitude, and prevalence of hygienic absorbent use among adolescent girls in India. However, most studies have only been carried out in small geographical areas. Though small-scale studies provide valuable insights into people’s health behaviors, their results are not generalizable to a wider population due to insufficient geographic coverage and a small sample size, which limits their power. An increasing amount of literature in the recent past has examined the factors affecting the use of hygienic methods during menstruation among young women (aged 11 to 16 years) in India. They have identified that the use of hygienic methods during menstruation is associated with level of education, household wealth, mass media exposure, and place of residence.²

The challenges that menstruating girls, and other menstruates face encompass more than a basic lack of supplies or infrastructure. While menstruation is a normal and healthy part of life for most women and girls, in many societies, the experience of menstruates continues to be constrained by cultural taboos and discriminatory social norms. The resulting lack of information about menstruation leads to unhygienic and unhealthy menstrual practices and creates misconceptions and negative attitudes, which motivate, among others, shaming, bullying, and even gender-based violence. For generations of girls and women, poor menstrual health and hygiene is exacerbating social and economic inequalities, negatively impacting their education, health, safety, and human development.³

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the awareness of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls.

2. To associate the awareness scores with demographic variables of adolescent girls.

HYPOTHESIS:

H₁- There will be a significant association between the awareness scores regarding menstrual hygiene with the demographic variables of adolescent girls.

METHODOLOGY:

Research Design:

The research design selected for study was descriptive survey design.

Sampling technique:

Stratified random sampling technique

Sample:

Sample size was 80 adolescent girls studying in Akkamhadevi High School, Davangere.

Variables:

Study variable:

Awareness regarding importance of menstrual hygiene and management among adolescent girls.

Demographic variables:

Age in years, religion, type of family, education of mother, occupation of the mother, family income, age of menarche, course of studying, type of the family, type of food pattern and source of information regarding importance of menstrual hygiene awareness and management.

Setting:

The present study was conducted in Akkamahadevi high school at Davanagere urban areas.

Data collection technique:

Section A - It deals with socio demographic characteristics which include age in years, religion, type of family, education of mother, occupation of the mother, family income, age of menarche, course of studying, type of the family, type of food pattern and source of information regarding the importance of menstrual hygiene awareness and management among adolescent girls.

Section B - Structured questionnaire was prepared to assess awareness on importance of menstrual hygiene awareness among adolescent girls of high school children’s, which contains 20 items. Each correct response is scored as ‘1’ and wrong answers are scored as ‘0’ and hence the maximum score is 20.

RESULTS:

Section 1: Selected personal variables of the adolescent girls.

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of selected personal variables of adolescent girls. N = 80

Variable	Frequency	Percent
1. Age
a. 12-14 years	41	51.3
b. 15-16 years	39	48.8
2. Religion
a. Hindu	49	61.3
b. Muslim	31	38.8
3. Type of family
a. Joint family	35	43.8
b. Nuclear family	45	56.3
4. Education of mother
a. No formal education	22	27.5
b. Primary education	28	35.0
c. High school	1	1.3
d. PUC	29	36.3
5. Occupation of mother
a. Housewife	1	1.3
b. Coolie	29	36.3
c. Self employed	23	28.8
d. Private job	27	33.8
6. Income
a. Less than 10000	45	56.3
b. Rs. 10001-15000	35	43.8
7. Food pattern
a. Vegetarian	38	47.5
b. Non vegetarian	42	52.5
8. Source of information
c. Mother	80	100.0
9. Age at menarche
a. Not attained	1	1.3
b. 10-11 years	28	35.0
c. 12-14 years	51	63.8
10. Class studying
a. 8th standard	21	26.3
b. 9th standard	28	35.0
c. 10th standard	31	38.8

Table 2: Mean, and Standard Deviation of Age of The Subjects And Age At Menarche N=80

	Mean	SD
Age of subjects	14.4	1.026
Age at Menarche	11.68	1.573

The mean age of the adolescent girls in the study population is 14.4±1.026 years and the mean age of adolescent girls at menarche is found to be 11.68±1.573 years, which is in par with others study published in year.

Section 2: Awareness of adolescent girls regarding menstrual hygiene.

Table 3: Assessment of level of Awareness of adolescent girls regarding menstrual hygiene

Awareness level	Frequency	Percent
a. Poor awareness (<50%)	0	0.0
b. Moderate awareness (51-75%)	24	30.0
c. Good awareness (>75%)	56	70.0
Total	80	100.0

Table 4: Analysis of Mean, Mean % And Standard Deviation of Awareness Scores

	Max Score	Mean	Mean%	SD
Awareness	20	16.31	81.55%	1.446

The mean awareness score of the adolescent girls in the study population is 16.31 (81.55%) with the standard deviation of 1.446.

Section III: Association of awareness scores with demographic variables

Association between awareness scores of adolescent girls regarding menstrual hygiene with their selected personal variables reveals that personal variables such as age in years, religion, type of family, education of mother, occupation of the mother, family income, age of menarche, course of studying, type of the family, type of food pattern and source of information were not having significant association with the awareness scores regarding menstrual hygiene.

CONCLUSION:

The current study observed that the majority of adolescent girls having good awareness of menstrual hygiene. But girls hesitate when discussing sensitive topics like menstrual hygiene. During general discussion, girls expressed that still they don't exercise proper hygiene throughout their periods. During menstruation, the majority of girls are still subjected to various restrictions. Thus, it is important to create a healthy environment where everyone can talk honestly about their personal experiences with this type of sensitive subject. There is a great need to create awareness and promote hygienic practices during periods in adolescent girls.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The following recommendations were made based on the results of the study.

· A study to assess the of menstrual hygiene practices of adolescent girls.

· A study on recent updates in menstrual hygiene practices.

· Comparative study on sustainability and adherence of sanitary napkin and menstrual cup for menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls.

REFERENCE:

1. Singh A, Chakra arty M, Singh S, Chandra R, Chowdhury S, Singh A. Menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent women in rural India: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health [Internet]. 2022; 22(1). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14622-7

2. Fatima M, Kausar H, Giri P, Ingale A. Study on Menstrual Hygiene Management among Urban and Rural Adolescent Girls in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. Indian J. of Com. Health. 2023;35(2):

3. World Bank Group. Menstrual Health and Hygiene. World Bank Group. 2023.

Received on 26.03.2024 Modified on 13.04.2024

A and V Pub J. of Nursing and Medical Res. 2024; 3(2):51-54.

DOI: 10.52711/jnmr.2024.11