Effectiveness of Health Education in Improving Menstrual Hygiene Knowledge and Practices among Adolescent Girls of Rural India

Abstract

Introduction : Menstruation is still surrounded by many myths, misconceptions and taboos. Adolescent girls in India, seems to have inadequate and inaccurate knowledge on menstruation and its hygiene. Improper menstrual hygiene can lead to reproductive tract infections which can adversely affect a woman's reproductive health. This study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of health education in improving the knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practice among rural adolescent girls of India. Method:An interventional study was done among 82 college girls selected by convenient sampling in a rural area of Tamilnadu, India. Intervention done was health education on menstrual physiology and hygiene practice using animated video and interactive session in local language. Questionnaire on knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene practice was administered to the participants before health education session. Improvement in knowledge and practice was assessed after one month of the session. Results: Baseline knowledge about menstruation was adequate only for 57.5 percent of participants. Baseline menstrual hygiene practice was good only among 8.8 percent of participants. Following health education, knowledge about menstruation significantly improved to 90%. Menstrual hygiene practice also showed a significant improvement from 8.8% to 30 percent%. Conclusion: This study showed that providing a comprehensive health education on menstrual physiology and hygiene would greatly improve the menstrual hygiene practice of adolescent girls.