Knowledge and practices regarding menstruation among school going adolescents of rural Nepal

Abstract

Background: 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. Menstrual hygiene and management is an issue that is insufficiently acknowledged and has not received adequate attention. Objective: This study was done to assess the knowledge and practices regarding menstruation among school going adolescents. Methods: A descriptive study was done among sixty-one female adolescents of Shree Himali Secondary School, Panchkanya, Sunsari, where data were collected from the adolescents meeting the inclusion criteria. Results: It was found that 36.1% correctly reported about menstruation where most common informant was mother (39.3%). Dysmenorrhoea was the commonest problem faced during menstruation (78.7%) followed by back pain and excessive blood loss. More than half of respondents (54.1%) used sanitary pads and frequency of changing pads twice a day was highest (50.8%). Initial reaction was of fear/apprehension at menarche by 36.1% of girls whereas 44.3% perceived it as an expectant process. Girls still faced different types of restrictions like not being allowed to visit holy places, not being allowed to cook and touch male family member etc. Conclusion: Traditional beliefs regarding menstruation still persist and menstrual hygiene among the adolescents was found to be unsatisfactory. It highlights the need of targeted interventions to raise awareness and provision of family health education package to all girls. Menstrual hygiene is an issue that needs to be addressed at all levels.Journal of Kathmandu Medical College Vol. 2, No. 3, Issue 5, Jul.-Sep., 2013 Page: 117-121DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v2i3.9962Uploaded date : 3/4/2014

A study on perception and practice of menstruation among school going adolescent girls in district Ambala Haryana, India

“…However, internet was the main sources of knowledge (81.2%) among urban adolescents, whereas among rural adolescents girl's mother was the main sources of knowledge regarding menstruation. A study done by Sadiq 13,20,26,[28][29][30] The important finding reported in this study is that teachers were not considered neither as a good source of information nor were they preferred to provide education regarding these matters. Most common problem was abdominal pain, followed by pain in leg, headache/Irritation, and Loss of Appetite.…”

“…In studies conducted by Kajal which was similar to our study. 9,12,13 Mean age of menarche among the urban adolescent girls was earlier (11.42±1.66) years and in the rural adolescent girls, it was later (13.12±1.241 years). Studies conducted by Thakre SB, et al and Kamath R, et al in Nagpur and Manipal respectively, documented that the mean age of menarche was 12.85 ± 0.867 years and 13.98 year.…”

Menarche and Its Determinants in Adolescent Girls

“…Studies from different parts of India observed the variation of mean age of menarche as Maharashtra (12.99 years),9 Kolkata 14 Average age at menarche in different studies in different time in Nepal was found to be 12 years among the rural adolescent girls in 2007, 15 12.5 years in Sunsari district in 2013, 16 12.94 years in five government schools of Kailali district in 2014. 17 Our study showed that the mean age at menarche among adolescent girls was 12.4 (SD = 1.11).…”

Assessment of knowledge regarding menstruation and practices related to maintenance of menstrual hygiene among the women of reproductive age group in a slum of Kolkata, West Bengal, India

“…Menstruation, the periodic vaginal bleeding that occurs with the shedding of the uterine mucosa, is one of the important signs of puberty and occurs one or two years following appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. 1 The first menstruation (menarche) occurs between 11 and 15 years with a mean age of 13 years.…”