Abstract

Menstrual Related Practices and Hygiene Among Adolescent Girls-A Comparative Study from Private, Government and Tribal Schools of Amravati District

Background: Adolescence in girls has been recognized as a special period that signifies the transition from girlhood to womanhood. Good hygienic practices such as the use of sanitary pads and adequate washing of the genital area are essential during menstruation. Hygiene-related practices of women during menstruation are of considerable importance, as it has a health impact in terms of increased vulnerability to reproductive tract infections. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive, and comparative study was carried out in randomly selected Private, Government, and Tribal schools of the Amravati district. Results: A total of 450 adolescent girls from Government, Private, and Tribal schools participated in the study. The mean age at menarche of government, private, and Tribal school girls were 12.98 years ± 0.79 years, 12.55 years ± 0.81 years, and 13.07 years ± 1.23 years respectively. The menstrual cycle was regular in the majority of girls from government, private, and tribal schools girls. Menstrual flow lasted for 2 days-7 days in 86% and 82.7% of government and private school girls respectively while the flow was less than 2 days in 78.7% of trial school girls. Adolescent girls from government, private and tribal schools (92.7%, 98%, and 55.3% respectively) used sanitary pads during menstruation. Conclusions: Menstrual cycle was regular in the majority of girls from government, private, and tribal schools girls. Nearly all girls from government and private schools knew about menstruation before menarche and the source of information were mothers or sisters and radio and television. Almost all girls from the government, the private school used sanitary pads during menstruation but girls from tribal schools used reusable clothes mainly.

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