Sutanuka Santra
Assessment of knowledge regarding menstruation and practices related to maintenance of menstrual hygiene among the women of reproductive age group in a slum of Kolkata, West Bengal, India
ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences and Research & Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy Hospital
background menstruation normal biological process key sign reproductive health unfortunately taboo surrounding menstruation prevents women articulating needs lack awareness process menstruation hygienic management problem poor menstrual hygiene still persists society objectives 1 elicit knowledge regarding menstruation among women reproductive age group 2 find practice menstrual hygiene among themmethods community based observational crosssectional study conducted baghbazar slum kolkata total 160 menstruating women age group 1545 years included data analysed using ibm spss version 20 results 32 women 20 idea menarche regarding menstruation 65 women used sanitary pad 30 used cloth pieces 5 used pad cloth piece prevalence sanitary pad use significantly higher among aged lt25 years plt005 increasing literacy status well socio economic status use sanitary pad also found increased difference statistically significant plt005 42 cloth piece users reused cloth piece reused cloth pieces washed used cloth pieces soap water 50 dried sunlight women practised kind restriction menstruation 4 individuals take regular bath bleeding period women 375 suffered reproductive tract infection menstruation study subjects 956 disposed used napkins municipal vatconclusions awareness increased regarding maintenance good menstrual hygiene health education programme