Assessment of Menstrual Hygiene Practices Among Adolescent School Girls in Pakistan
Abstract
Background
Menstrual hygiene practices are one of the problems for young girls, particularly in schools in low and medium income countries.
Objectives
To evaluate menstrual hygiene practices among teenage girls and to compare menstrual hygiene practices among secondary and higher secondary school girls in Pakistan.
A cross-sectional analysis of adolescent girls (grades 9 to 12) from different secondary and higher schools across Pakistan was conducted between November 2017 and September 2018. A pre-tested and standardized questionnaire was administered using a non-probability sampling technique. The menstrual hygiene habits were evaluated and comparisons were made with secondary and higher school girls about the practice of menstrual hygiene. Using SPSS version 22, the data was analysed. P-value < 0.05 was found statistically significant.
Results
Out of a total of 2,000 adolescent girls, an equal number of adolescent girls (n=1,000) were chosen from secondary and higher secondary schools. The mean menarchal age was 12.5 ± 1.2 years. The majority was from the womb. Girls (19.3%) missed 2 days/month from school due to pain (54.5%). Participants using sanitary pads were (68.6%), pads changed 3 times/day (35.2%), and (45.9%) girls were unable to carry out daily activities. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) association has been observed between knowledge of menstruation among secondary and high school girls.
Conclusion
The study showed that menstrual hygiene was understood well among young girls, However, a substantial association was noted between secondary and higher secondary girl hygiene practices.
Key words
Adolescent girls, Menstruation hygiene practices, Schools, Pakistan.
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