Menstruation Among Adolescent Girls Living in Rural Border Areas
Various Beliefs and Problems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32553/ijmbs.v4i8.1349Keywords:
Adolescent girls, Menstruation, Rural border areas, HygieneAbstract
Objective: To study the various beliefs and problems regarding menstruation among adolescent girls living in rural border areas.
Design- Prospective study.
Setting- Pediatric outpatient clinic.
Materials and methods- About 200 adolescent girls (11-19 years) living in rural border areas were enrolled for the study. These girls were asked about menarche, duration of the cycle, amount of blood loss and the various menstrual problems. They were also asked about the various beliefs and myths regarding menstruation. The girls having any illness affecting the menstrual cycle or those suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders were excluded from this study.
Results- About 51% of the study population was in the age group 17-18 years. About 43.5% of girls attained menarche at the age of 10-12 years. About 51% of girls did not know about menstruation before menarche. Abdominal pain was the most common side effect seen in 41% of girls during menstruation. About 61% of girls considered themselves unclean during menstruation. Twenty percent avoided schools, 20% avoided kitchen, 12% avoided temples while 10% stayed away from friends/ relatives. Only 33% of girls knew that menstruation stops temporarily after becoming pregnant. Twenty-two percent girls were using sanitary napkins while the rest used different types of clothes during the menstrual cycle.
Conclusion- There is a dire need to educate girls regarding menstruation before menarche in the rural border areas. Every mother should discuss in a friendly way regarding various aspects of menstruation.
