Study on Menstrual Hygiene Practices among Rural Adolescent Girls

Abstract

The experiment was conducted from August, 2018 to May, 2019 in Hisar to study menstrual hygiene practices among rural adolescent girls in Gawar and Burak villages of Hisar Block II. Menstruation, a natural process in adolescent females, involves the shedding of blood for about one week each month from puberty until menopause. Menarche typically occurs between 11 and 15 years, with an average age of 13 years. The menstrual flow comprised blood, mucus, endometrial fragments, and vaginal epithelial cells. Menstrual hygiene refers to the maintenance of genital cleanliness, use of sanitary absorbents, and provision of appropriate hygienic and emotional care during menstruation. The study was conducted in Gawar and Burak villages of Hisar Block II, where 50 females were selected from each village through random sampling, resulting in a total sample of 100 respondents. Findings revealed that fewer than half of the participants bathed daily and cleaned the external genitalia with plain water twice a day. A majority reused washed cloths as absorbents, changing them twice every 12 hours and reusing them for one to two cycles. Dustbins were commonly used for disposal, but they faced many difficulties in drying absorbents after washing. Increased water intake during menstruation was also reported. The high cost of sanitary napkins deterred their use, despite the presence of separate functional girls’ toilets in schools. The study suggested government interventions, including subsidies on sanitary napkins, installation of sanitary napkin vending machines in schools, and training for rural communities to produce low-cost sanitary napkins locally, to improve menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls.