KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES ON MENSTRUAL HEALTH AMONG YOUNG WOMEN IN BIHAR- A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background:

India has several health issues that can be avoided by raising awareness and following fundamental rules. Menstrual hygiene is one of those subjects that is rarely discussed but is essential to a woman's life. Women have been discouraged from getting help from professionals due to misconceptions about this. The aim of this study is to spread awareness of menstrual health and practice among young women in Bihar.

Methods: This study was conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital located in Bhagalpur, Bihar with 25 participants per week. Data collection was carried out from September 2022 to February 2023 with a structured questionnaire after obtaining consent. 

Results:

Most women (59%) understood little about menstruation. Moreover, a quarter of those surveyed used disposable pads. Most Bihari women (73%) who did not use sanitary pads claimed to have used cotton (9%), old disposable clothes (60%), reusable clothing (26%), or toilet tissue paper (4%). Sixty-one percent of the women took special baths, and thirty-seven percent observed sociocultural taboos during their periods. Higher menstrual knowledge was linked to more disposable sanitary napkins being used, according to the bivariate analysis (low knowledge: 76 individuals, high knowledge: 156 individuals; p=0.01).

Conclusion:

The research concluded that the study subjects had no awareness of menstruation hygiene. They had subpar menstrual hygiene habits and attitudes. Participants' lack of preparation for menarche and their strong opinions that menstruation is socially taboo can be inferred from their different constraints because of these strong social and cultural norms to eliminate the stigma associated with menstruation, group talks, media efforts, and sex education in schools are necessary.

Recommendation:

Frequent sessions should be conducted by healthcare workers to enhance the knowledge of young women, and to increase their positive attitudes and practices regarding menstrual hygiene.