KNOWLEDGE REGARDING MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Abstract

Background: Menstruation is generally considered as unclean in the Indian society. Isolating
menstruating girls and restrictions being imposed on them in the family have reinforced a
negative attitude towards this phenomenon. There is a substantial lacuna in the knowledge about
menstruation among adolescent girls.
Objectives: to assess the level of knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent
girls.
Methodology: A descriptive research design was used to assess the knowledge regarding
menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls of selected school of Distt Sri Muktsar sahib. A total
of 100 adolescent girls were taken from the selected school i.e Govt Sen. Sec. School Lambi by
using convenience technique. Structured Questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge
regarding menstrual hygiene.
Results: it was found that 49% adolescent girls were in the age group of 15-16 years, in which
331% were in the 10th class, 77% adolescent girls were having the age of menarche at 13-14
years, 98% adolescent girls belonging to rural area, 66% adolescent girls belonging to sikh
religion, 68% adolescent girls mothers were having primary education, 97% adolescent girls
mothers were house wife and 81% adolescent girls were getting information from family
members. In knowledge 1% adolescent girls had poor knowledge, 92% had average knowledge
and only 7% adolescent girls had good knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene. The relationship
of knowledge with selected socio-demographic variables were found to be statistically non
significant.
Conclusion: it was found that 1% adolescent girls had poor knowledge, 92% adolescent girls
had average knowledge and 7% adolescent girls had good knowledge regarding menstrual
hygiene.