Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls

Menstruation is a normal physiological process in females, and a lack of knowledge and understanding about it can lead to unsafe hygienic practices. This study aimed to assess sociodemographic and menstrual factors that affect the knowledge, attitude and practices of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls. This cross-sectional study was done among adolescent school girls in Eastern Uttar Pradesh for nine months using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. It consisted of five sections on sociodemographic, menstrual, knowledge, attitude and practice-related questions. Knowledge, attitude and practice-related questions scored one mark for each correct response. Those who scored >50% and ≤50% in each of the sections were categorised into acceptable and unacceptable. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20. The mean age at menarche was 13.11 (1.14) years. Acceptable scores in the knowledge, attitude and practice sections were obtained by 63.1%, 47.7% and 44.1% of girls, respectively. Living with parents and higher education of mothers was associated with acceptable menstrual hygiene knowledge, attitude and practices. Older age of girls and urban residences were associated with acceptable menstrual hygiene knowledge and practices. Girls with acceptable knowledge and those living in nuclear families had acceptable menstrual hygiene practices. Lower age, not living with parents, rural residence and mother's lower education were all significant predictors of poor menstrual hygiene practices. There is a need to develop awareness campaigns and programs for adolescent girls to improve their menstrual hygiene practices.