Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Menstrual Hygiene in Women Aged 13–45 Years Attending Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Sitapur: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Ab s t r Ac t Background and aims and objectives: There is a substantial lacuna in the awareness of menstruation and menstrual hygiene practice among young girls and women of reproductive age. Menstruation is a normal hormonal process and the leading indicator of women’s reproductive age groups’ reproductive health. Inadequate knowledge about menstrual hygiene influences education practice, social activity, environment, and women’s daily activities. This study evaluates women’s hygiene practices in the Sitapur district among women aged 13–45 years, evaluates their knowledge of menstrual hygiene, and promotes their knowledge about menstrual hygiene. Materials and methods: This was hospital-based cross-sectional research conducted in the woman age group of 13–45 years attending Gynecology’s outpatient department. A predesigned, pretested, semi-structured questionnaire has been used as a questionnaire survey. The interview process has been used for data collection and obtaining informed consent from the participants. The SPSS 20v software analyzed data. Results: The mean age of participants was 29.00 ± 9.60 years; 76.8% of participants were not aware of menstruation before attaining menarche, around 23.78% were not known about the cause of menstruation, and 75.20% source of the blood of menstruation cycle in a rural area. In the rural area, only 4.72% used only sanitary pads, and the majority of participants, 79.39%, used old clothes, whereas 75% used sanitary pads in the urban. Only water used for cleaning the external genitalia was practiced by 52.36% of rural area subjects. Meaningfully deplorable menstrual hygiene practices associated with rural participates. Conclusion: The educational and communication program for public health care focusing on menstrual hygiene must be strengthened. Educational awareness and very well programs will play a key role in implementing health education in women.