Hygienic Sanitary Items Usage and Ovulatory Cycle Knowledge in India

Abstract

Background In India, most of the adolescent girls experience their first menstrual cycle with the lack of knowledge on menstruation, exacerbated by a plethora of taboos. Women undergoing menstruation experience discrimination, abuse, and neglect resulting from the myths and misconceptions built around menstruation. Such practices of discrimination and perpetuating myths might potentially lead to girls missing their schools and sometimes even dropping out after they start menstruating. NFHS-4 data shows that 26.8 percent of women in India are married before 18 years and 7.8 percent of the women in 15-19 years age group have already become a mother or are pregnant. One-third of the new births in India are born out of adolescent pregnancies. Considering these issues, this study examines how various socio-economic factors impact: (i) the usage of hygienic sanitary items by menstruating women during their periods, and (ii) their knowledge about the ovulatory cycle.Methods We have used the most recent Demographic and Health Survey, popularly known as the National Family Health Survey Round 4 (NFHS-4), conducted in 2015-16 for this study, with a sample of 2,47,833 women in the age group of 15 to 24 years. Binary logistics regression was performed separately for addressing both the research questions, i.e., the impact of various socio-economic characteristics on the usage of hygienic sanitary items and women’s knowledge of the ovulatory cycle.Results We found that (a) women or their partners who are educated up to high school are more likely to use the hygienic sanitary items, and (b) married women or women who have access to television are more likely to know about the ovulatory cycles.Conclusion These findings tell us the ground reality of menstrual health in India and urge policymakers to develop comprehensive puberty education programs for boys and girls and community-based programs to start a discussion between the community, adults, and other menstruators freely.

Socioeconomic factors affecting the use of contraceptives: An empirical analysis on mothers having at least two children in Bangladesh.

“…In India, it is found that most (89%) of adolescent girls (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) years have incorrect knowledge of the ovulatory cycle and they are overwhelmed by many myths and misconceptions that lead them to endless suffering (Babbar and Saluja 2020). Bangladesh still has a lack of studies to uncover the issue properly.…”