Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Adolescent Girls: A Cross-Sectional Study of Practices, Perceptions, and Contextual Challenges in School Settings
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Abstract
Objective: To assess the prevalence and patterns of menstrual disorders and their impact on school attendance and daily activities among rural adolescent schoolgirls in South Andaman. Design: Community-based cross-sectional study. Subjects/Patients: A total of 288 adolescent schoolgirls from the Community Health Centre Bambooflat area, South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Methods: Sample size was calculated using prevalence of 75% with 5% allowable error. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire and analysed appropriately. Results: The vast majority (98.9%) of participants were aware of menstruation before menarche, primarily learning from their mothers (69.1%), yet significant gaps in biological knowledge persisted. While commercial sanitary pad use was predominant (94.1%), key practices like infrequent changing and non-standard disposal methods were strongly associated with poor menstrual hygiene status. Conclusion: Menstrual disorders are a significant concern among adolescent girls, underscoring the need for early identification, awareness, and supportive school-based interventions.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Dr Samar Hossain, Dr Aanchal Anand, Dr Ajay Raj
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons License All articles published in Annals of Medicine and Medical Sciences are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Dr Samar Hossain, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, ANIIMS, Sri Vijaya Puram, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India.
Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, ANIIMS, Sri Vijaya Puram, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India.
Dr Aanchal Anand, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, ANIIMS, Sri Vijaya Puram, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India.
Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, ANIIMS, Sri Vijaya Puram, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India.
Dr Ajay Raj, Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, ANIIMS, Sri Vijaya Puram, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India.
Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, ANIIMS, Sri Vijaya Puram, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India.
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