Menstrual hygiene practices and its association with reproductive tract infections and abnormal vaginal discharge among women in India

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 249-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enu Anand ◽  
Jayakant Singh ◽  
Sayeed Unisa
Keyword(s):  
Vaginal Discharge ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Reproductive Tract Infections ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Abnormal Vaginal Discharge ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Women In India

scholarly journals Reproductive and sexual health knowledge along with menstrual hygiene practices among late adolescent girls 15-19 years in an urban slum

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1847
Author(s):  
Mayuri Verma ◽  
Yasmeen K. Kazi ◽  
Sudam R. Suryawanshi
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Urban Slum ◽  
The Body ◽  
Late Adolescent ◽  
Reproductive Tract Infections ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Tract Infections

Background: Many biological changes occur in the body of girls during the adolescent period. Menstruation, an important natural process, is linked with several perceptions and practices which may result in adverse health outcome.Methods: The study was conducted among late adolescent girls in the age group of 15-19 years. Details of their socio demographic profile, knowledge about growing up changes, menstruation, pregnancy and contraception, Reproductive tract infections, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. Their source of information regarding the same was also enquired into. Their menstrual hygiene practices were also asked in detail.Results: The girls in this study were mostly Hindus, around 16 years of age, belonged to nuclear families, lived in pukka houses, only half of them had a sanitary latrine in their house, and majority of the girls had their mother’s educated up to middle school. Knowledge about puberty, especially physical changes was better than that about conception, pregnancy and contraception and STI/RTI and HIV. However, adequate menstrual hygiene was practiced only by a few of them. Girls who had symptoms related to RTI/STI were seen to have poor knowledge.Conclusions: Importance of focusing on menstrual hygiene and reproductive health among adolescent girls, should start early and should be regularly reinforced to minimize the risk of infections.

scholarly journals Menstrual hygiene practices in young girls of urban India

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reena V. Wagh ◽  
Aditi J. Upadhye ◽  
Jayshree J. Upadhye
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Reproductive Tract Infections ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Young Girls ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Sanitary Pads ◽  
Tract Infections

Background: Menstrual hygiene is an important aspect in the life of young girls.The present study aims at assessing the knowledge regarding menstruation and hygienic practices and perceptions during menstruation.Methods: It was a cross sectional study, conducted among 100 young girls of 20-22 years age to assess the awareness of menstrual hygiene. Data was collected by pre-tested questionnaire. Statistics was calculated in percentages.Results: Out of 100 girls, 71 (71%) knew about menstruation before menarche while 29 (29%) did not have any knowledge. 71 (71%) girls knew the cause of menstruation as physiological, 18 (18%) girls didn’t know the cause, 11 (11%) girls still believe it as curse of God. 68 (68%) girls knew the source of bleeding during menstruation as uterus, 20 (20%) girls thought it as vagina while 12 (12%) thought it as urethra. 64% girls use sanitary pads during menstruation, 19% girls used old cloth while 17% girls used new cloth during menstruation as adsorbent material. 9% girls dispose pads or used cloth in dustbin, 19% girls flush them in toilet while 12% girls throw them roadside. 96% girls avoid going to temple, 68% girls restrict their daily activities, 56% girls avoid going to functions, 50% girls avoid going to kitchen, 50% girls avoid going to kitchen while 45% girls avoid touching things at home.Conclusions: It is very important that young girls should be educated about the importance of maintaining hygiene during menstruation to prevent the risk of reproductive tract infections.

scholarly journals Reproductive tract infections associated with vaginal discharge and their socio-demographic and reproductive determinants among clinic attendees in Bangladesh

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-72
Author(s):  
Saifur Rahman ◽  
Marian J Currie ◽  
Robert F Breiman ◽  
Masud Reza ◽  
Motiur Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽  
Vaginal Discharge ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Reproductive Tract Infections ◽  
Reproductive Characteristics ◽  
Abnormal Vaginal Discharge ◽  
Tract Infections

Abnormal vaginal discharge is frequently associated with common sexually and non-sexually transmitted reproduc-tive tract infections (RTIs) and the resultant poor reproductive health outcomes. However, there is scarce informa-tion concerning the prevalence and etiologies of these infections in women in Bangladesh. The aim of study was to determine the rates of, and socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics associated with, common RTIs in urban public health clinics in Dhaka, Bangladesh. An urban clinic-based sample of 1309 currently married women of reproductive age presenting with abnormal vaginal discharge was recruited. Consenting women were interviewed and tested for Candida, bacterial vaginosis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia tra-chomatis during a speculum examination. Approximately 53% (673/1309) of the participants had laboratory evi-dence of RTIs. The prevalence of Candida, bacterial vaginosis, T. vaginalis, N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis were 32.4%, 22.4%, 3.1%, 2.1 %, 1.9% respectively. Age, education, living in a slum, working outside the home, polygamous marriage and suspecting infidelity were independently associated with vaginal and cervical infections. Candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis were the most common infections in this population. Paying attention to the socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics found to be associated with RTIs can assist clinicians in identi-fying women at risk of these infections. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/seajph.v2i2.15958 South East Asia J Public Health | Jul-Dec 2012 | Vol 2 Issue 2 | 67-72

scholarly journals Determinants of menstrual hygiene among school going adolescent girls in urban areas of Hyderabad

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 2211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Pal Singh Chajhlana ◽  
Sai Ram Amaravadhi ◽  
Sai Deepika Mazodi ◽  
Venkata Sravani Kolusu
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Reproductive Tract Infections ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Tract Infections

Background: The word adolescent is derived from the Latin word “adolescere”, which means to grow into maturity. The adolescent girls get debarred due to various social misconceptions, lack of privacy, illiteracy of parents, especially mother, low socioeconomic conditions, and lack of proper health awareness and education about this sensitive issue which ultimately results this age group into vulnerability to reproductive tract infections, which can be reduced by improving the knowledge about the menstrual hygiene.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among school going adolescent girls during the month of November 2018. Data was collected using a questionnaire which includes socio-demographic variables and menstrual hygiene practices. Sample size of the study was 69 students. The assessment of knowledge was done as good knowledge (score: >5/10) poor knowledge (score <5/10). The of data and the. All the data collected was entered and analysed with MS excel software 2007.Results: 28.1% girls were aware of menstruation prior to attainment of menarche.. Major source of information about menstruation is mother (53.6%). More than 80% of adolescent girls are using sanitary pads as an absorbent. Lack of disposal facility and lack of water supply are reasons for school absenteeism.Conclusions: In this study the knowledge of menstruation hygiene among the study population is significantly associated with mother’s education and occupation. 

scholarly journals Assessment of knowledge and practices regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls of Government higher secondary school, station Murhipar, Rajnandgaon (C.G.)

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjana Tiwari ◽  
Indu Jyotsna Ekka ◽  
Rajni Thakur
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
External Genitalia ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Reproductive Tract Infections ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Tract Infections

Background: Poor menstrual hygiene practices result into adverse health outcome in terms of increased vulnerability to reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and its consequences. The objective of present study was to assess the Knowledge and Practices regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls.Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was done among adolescent girls of class VII, VIII, IX and X (who attained menarche) in Government higher secondary school, station Murhipar, Rajnandgaon (C.G.) during September 2017 to October 2017 (two months) using a pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire. Statistical analysis: Collected data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage).Results: A total of 141 adolescent school girls in the age group 12 to 17 years participated in this study. The mean age of menarche of the respondents was 12.9 years (range 11-15 years). Majority of girls (85.8%) were aware about menstruation prior to attainment of menarche. Mother was the first informant in case of 55.4% girls. Majority of girls (90.1%) practiced different restrictions during menstruation. Only 2.1% girls used sanitary pads during menstruation. Regarding hygienic practices, only 29.8% of girls change their cloths/pads three and above times per day and 98.6% girls had daily bath with soap during menstruation. Satisfactory hand washing with soap and water after changing pad during menstruation was present in 96.4%. Cleanliness of external genitalia was satisfactory in case of 80.1% girls.Conclusions: The adolescent girls need to be educated about fact of menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices in order to improve the menstrual hygiene.

scholarly journals Identifying Risk Factors for Lower Reproductive Tract Infections among Women Using Reusable Absorbents in Odisha, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4778
Author(s):  
Padmalaya Das ◽  
Danielle Lisnek ◽  
Krushna Chandra Sahoo ◽  
Shalini Sinha ◽  
JyotiRanjan Mohanty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Reproductive Tract Infections ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Study Laboratory

A large proportion of women in Odisha, India, use reusable absorbents to manage their menstruation. Yet, the risk factors for lower reproductive tract infections (RTIs) related to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) have not been studied among reusable absorbent users. Women of reproductive age attending one of two hospitals from two different cities in Odisha during two separate study intervals were recruited for the study. Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) were conducted. A questionnaire was used to collect information on MHM practices, water, sanitation, and socio-demographic factors. Among the 509 women who used reusable absorbents, 71.7% were diagnosed with at least one infection. After adjusting for confounders, women with BV were more likely to identify as being a housewife (aOR: 1.8 (1.1–2.9)). Frequent absorbent changing was protective against BV (aOR: 0.5 (0.3–0.8)), whereas frequent body washing increased the odds of BV (aOR: 1.5 (1.0–2.2)). Women with VVC were more likely to be older (aOR: 1.6 (1.0–2.5)), live below the poverty line (aOR: 1.5 (1.1–2.2)), have a non-private household latrine (aOR: 2.2 (1.3–4.0)), dry their absorbents inside the house (aOR: 3.7 (2.5–4.5)), and store absorbents in the latrine area (aOR: 2.0 (1.3–2.9)). Washing absorbents outside the house was protective against VVC (aOR: 0.7 (0.4–1.0)). This study highlights the importance of improving MHM practices among reusable absorbent users to prevent lower RTIs among women reusing menstrual materials in Odisha.

A Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Praneem Polyherbal Vaginal Tablets Compared With Betadine Vaginal Pessary in Women With Symptoms of Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-468
Author(s):  
Sudha Salhan ◽  
Vrijesh Tripathi ◽  
Raman Sehgal ◽  
Gaurav Kumar ◽  
Gursaran P. Talwar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaginal Discharge ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Lower Abdominal Pain ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Vaginal Pessary ◽  
Abnormal Vaginal Discharge ◽  
Tract Infections

Abnormal vaginal discharge (AVD) caused by a variety of reproductive tract infections is a widespread syndrome among women in India and in other developing countries. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a polyherbal formulation, Praneem, can be used for the regression of the syndrome. A phase ΙΙ randomized controlled study was carried out with Praneem polyherbal tablets and Betadine vaginal pessary in 99 women with AVD. The authors found that 92% of women using Praneem were relieved of their symptoms of AVD as against 81.6% women using Betadine. Significant reduction was also seen with both treatments in lower abdominal pain, vaginal itching, and dysuria. Thus, the study indicates the efficacy of Praneem for the treatment of AVD and provides a rationale for planning a further Phase III study on a larger sample size for definitive conclusions.

scholarly journals Menstrual Hygiene and Reproductive Morbidity in Adolescent Girls in Dehradun, India

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchi Juyal ◽  
S. D. Kandpal ◽  
Jayanti Semwal
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Lower Abdominal Pain ◽  
Reproductive Tract Infections ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Tract Infections

Context: In India, adolescent girls face serious health problem due to socio-economic, environmental and cultural conditions as well as gender discrimination. A vast majority of girls in India are suffering from either general or reproductive morbidities. Unhygienic practices during menstruation expose them for Reproductive Tract Infections (RTI). If not treated early, it could lead to various disabilities and consequently affect their valuable lives. This study was done with the aim of estimating the magnitude of gynaecological morbidities among unmarried adolescent girls as well as to find out the relation between menstrual hygiene and RTI. Settings and Design: Cross-Sectional Observational study conducted in two randomly selected Inter colleges (one rural and one urban) of district Dehradun, Uttarakhand state. Methods and Material: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in school going unmarried adolescent girls to know their menstrual hygiene practices as well as reproductive morbidity. Data was collected by interview method using a pretested, prestructured questionnaire after taking consent. Statistical analysis used: percentages and Chi-square test. Results: Approximately 65 % of the girls reported having dysmenorrhoea and 19 % of the girls had given the history of excessive vaginal discharge with or without low backache/lower abdominal pain. Strong association was found between Reproductive Tract Infections and poor menstrual hygiene. Conclusions: Girls should be made aware of the process of menstruation and importance of maintaining its hygiene before attaining menarche. They should also be made aware about its linkages with their forthcoming reproductive health. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i2.14257 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.13(2) 2014 p.170-174

scholarly journals Menstrual Hygiene, Management, and Waste Disposal: Practices and Challenges Faced by Girls/Women of Developing Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajanbir Kaur ◽  
Kanwaljit Kaur ◽  
Rajinder Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Reproductive Tract Infections ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene Management ◽  
Hygiene Management ◽  
Sanitary Products ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
At Home

Menstruation and menstrual practices still face many social, cultural, and religious restrictions which are a big barrier in the path of menstrual hygiene management. In many parts of the country especially in rural areas girls are not prepared and aware about menstruation so they face many difficulties and challenges at home, schools, and work places. While reviewing literature, we found that little, inaccurate, or incomplete knowledge about menstruation is a great hindrance in the path of personal and menstrual hygiene management. Girls and women have very less or no knowledge about reproductive tract infections caused due to ignorance of personal hygiene during menstruation time. In rural areas, women do not have access to sanitary products or they know very little about the types and method of using them or are unable to afford such products due to high cost. So, they mostly rely on reusable cloth pads which they wash and use again. Needs and requirements of the adolescent girls and women are ignored despite the fact that there are major developments in the area of water and sanitation. Women manage menstruation differently when they are at home or outside; at homes, they dispose of menstrual products in domestic wastes and in public toilets and they flush them in the toilets without knowing the consequences of choking. So, there should be a need to educate and make them aware about the environmental pollution and health hazards associated with them. Implementation of modern techniques like incineration can help to reduce the waste. Also, awareness should be created to emphasize the use of reusable sanitary products or the natural sanitary products made from materials like banana fibre, bamboo fibre, sea sponges, water hyacinth, and so on.

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