Knowledge and Practices Regarding Menstruation among Adolescent Girls of Umuri Village, Koraput District, Odisha

Background: Adolescence is the transitional bridge between childhood & adulthood. This transitional period in female body is marked with the onset of menstruation. It is a significant and crucial phase in women?s life. The lack of awareness on menstruation and menstrual hygiene among girls of rural and tribal areas leads to different health adverse outcomes and attributed to reproductive and sexual ill health. Various cultural taboos and socio - cultural restrictions has a great impact that can affect the perceptions of young girls as well as the ways in which the community people around them respond to their needs. Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge and practices related to menstruation among adolescent girls. Methods: A descriptive cross - sectional study was conducted among 50 adolescent girls of Umuri village of Koraput district, Odisha. Data was collected through predesigned, semi - structured questionnaire with the help of personal interview method. Result: The study result shows that, out of 50 adolescent girls, 19 (38%) respondents had some idea about menstruation before their menarche. Only 5 (10%) adolescent girls in the study area were aware of the cause of menstruation as physiological process, 33 (66%) believed that menstruation is god given and rest of the respondents did not know the cause of menstruation.5 (10%) girls knew the source of bleeding during menstruation as uterus, 27 (54%) girls thought it as vagina and rest of the girls do not know the source of the organ from where bleeding occurs. For most of the adolescent girls, the source of information about menstruation before menarche were their mother (46%) followed by friends (32%) and sister (22%). Dysmenorrhea was the most common problem faced during menstruation. All of them practices one or more socio - cultural restrictions and cultural taboos related to menstruation.64% girls used old cloth while 24% used sanitary pad during menstruation as absorbent material. Still animal sacrifice was practiced by the family members of adolescent girls to avoid any health complications during their reproductive period. Conclusion: This study highlighted the need of adolescent girls to have accurate and adequate knowledge and information about menstruation, proper menstrual hygiene practices and appropriate hygiene management. For the enhancement of the knowledge regarding menstruation and related health issues, there is a need to emphasize on menstrual hygiene and different awareness programme should conducted with the help of ASHA worker, Anganwadi worker and others.