Poor management of menstrual hygiene: a leading cause of school absenteeism among adolescent girls in the urban slum of Madhya Pradesh

Authors

  • Surya Bali Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Sembagamuthu Sembiah Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Kriti Yadav Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Jayeeta Burman Department of Community Medicine, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20204295

Keywords:

Adolescent girls, Menstrual hygiene, School absenteeism

Abstract

Background: Despite the strides made in the field of adolescent and women health, menstrual problems remain a stigma. Unsatisfactory menstrual hygiene practices have a profound influence on the adolescent girl’s health and academic performance. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the relationship between school absenteeism and poor MHM and its impacts on school girl’s day to day lives.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 384 adolescent girls enrolled in anganwadi centres of the urban slum of Madhya Pradesh from January to June 2018. A pre-designed and pretested questionnaire used to collect the data regarding menstrual hygiene practices and school absenteeism. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software (version 16.0. Chicago, SPSS Inc.).

Results: The study found that around two-thirds (64.3%) and nearly one third (30%) of the participants were using a simple cloth and sanitary pads. About half (50.6%) of the respondents miss their school during the menstruation. Majority of them perceived that menstruation interferes with their school performance. The main reason for missing the schools was fear/ shame of leakage. In multivariable regression lack of sanitary facilities and painful menstruation remained significant predictors of school absenteeism.

Conclusions: There is a dire need to fortify efforts directed towards increasing awareness on menstrual hygiene, to revamp the existing measures for improving menstrual health of the adolescent girls. Focused attention is warranted by policymakers to improve the quality of life of this vulnerable group.

Author Biographies

Surya Bali, Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal

Sembagamuthu Sembiah, Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Department of Community and Family Medicine
All India Institute of medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal

Kriti Yadav, Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Senior Resident, Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of medical Sciences(AIIMS)Bhopal

Jayeeta Burman, Department of Community Medicine, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Demonstrator, Department of Community medicine, NRS medical college, Kolkata.

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Published

2020-09-25

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Original Research Articles