Abstract

MENSTRUATION AND MENSTRUAL HYGIENE PRACTICES OF ADOLESCENT SCHOOL GOING GIRLS: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

V. Vandana, K. Simarjeet* and Neetu

ABSTRACT

The onset of menstruation is one of the most important physiological changes occurring among girls during adolescent years of life. Menstruation heralds the onset of physiological maturity in girls. It becomes the part and parcel of their lives until menopause. In India, menstruation is surrounded by myths and misconceptions with long list of “do‟s” and “don‟t‟s” for women. A study was carried out to assess the expressed practices of adolescent school going girls regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene. The research approach adopted for the study was non-experimental quantitative research approach with descriptive research design. The study was conducted in Farooka Khalsa Sr. Sc. School, Bhartiya Public School, D.A.V Public School, Ambala Haryana. The sample comprised of 200 adolescent school going girls studying in class 8th, 9th and 10th and selected by purposive sampling technique. The data was collected by using expressed practices checklist after established the content validity from seven experts. The reliability was calculated by test retest method and was found to be 0.79. The mean of expressed practices of adolescent school going girls regarding menstrual hygiene was 19.2 with standard deviation 2.90 and median was 20 Nearly half of the subjects having Healthy (52%) level of expressed practices, 97% adolescent school going girls use sanitary pads followed by 94.5% wash their panty daily, 94% dispose off used sanitary pad by wrapping in paper and through in dustbin and 92% carry extra pad/ clean clothes. Thus, nurses can play an important role in giving supportive care and education to the adolescent girls in the school who are victims of poor menstruation and menstrual hygiene and can teach them regarding healthy menstrual hygiene practices.

Keywords: Expressed Practices, Adolescent School Going Girls, Menstruation, Menstrual Hygiene.