Knowledge and Practice regarding Menstrual Hygiene among Adolescent Girls in a Government School of Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Menstruation is the natural process in reproductive-age women. Menstrual hygiene is the most important for the health and well-being of women and girls worldwide. Lack of knowledge and practice related to menstrual hygiene is challenging for all adolescent girls. The major objective of this study is to assess the level of knowledge and practice regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls. 
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Shree Mahendranagar Secondary School of Bhimdatt municipality, Kanchanpur. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. A total of 96 respondents were selected by non-probability convenience sampling. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 16 and presented in tabular form.
Results: The study findings showed that 57.3% of the respondents had an adequate level of knowledge of menstrual hygiene. In the practice of menstrual hygiene, 66.4% of the respondents had good practice of the use of disposable absorbent. The study shows the majority (78.1%) of respondents got information regarding menstruation from their mothers. This study illustrates that 82.3% of respondents had restrictions to touch the person, things and 34.4% had dietary restrictions during the menstrual days. 
Conclusions: It is concluded that more than half of respondents have adequate knowledge and good practice regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene. The majority of respondents face various cultural restrictions during menstrual days. So, the girls should be educated about the process of menstruation, the use of proper pads for absorbents, and their proper disposal. This can be achieved by giving them proper training and health education by teachers, family members, health educators, and the media.