PERCEPTION AND PRACTICES ABOUT MENSTRUATION AMONG DIFFERENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC CLASSES OF PEOPLE IN PABNA, BANGLADESH

Most. Reshma Akter*, Shams Ferdows, Md. Shafiqul Islam, Md. Raihan Parvez, and Md. Mehedi Hasan, Md. Masud Rana

ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of our study was to assess the perception and practices regarding menstruation among different socio-economic classes of people in Pabna, Bangladesh. Method And Material: This cross sectional study was carried out by collecting data form Pabna and the data was analyzed by using Microsoft office Excel 2007. The empirical findings revealed in terms of perception about menstruation, social concept, starting age, source of information and helping hand, duration of cycle, extend of menstrual flow, materials used for menstrual management, changing frequency, and cleaning methods were summarized as counts percentages. Result: Of the total 400 participants, majority were age range between 21-30 years. Of them, 73.25% participants were married and 26.75% were unmarried. Among the respondents 99% were literate of various levels. Majority of the respondents, 56.75% had positive perception about menstruation although 18.25% felt shy, 3.5% felt scared, 4% felt discomfort, and 17.5% disgusted about it. About 82% husband had positive attitude about menstruation. The knowledge of menstruation was provided to the adolescent girl by the mother 33%, by grandmother 23.75%, by aunt 8%, by sister 13%, by friends 19.25% and by other relatives 3%. First menstrual period found to be started at the age 10-12 years of 70.50% participants. Respondents experiencing regular and irregular menstruation were 87.75% and 12.25%, respectively. Majority of respondents, 58.5% had normal menstrual blood flow for 5-6 days. Duration of each menstrual cycle were less than 21 days, 22-24 days, 25-28 days, 29-32 days, and more than 32 days among 4% , 44% , 42.25%, 8.25%, and 1.5% respondents respectively. As absorbent material 78.25% girls used sanitary pad, 3.5% new cloth, 14.25% reused cloth, 3.5% toilet paper and 0.5% cotton for menstrual management. Of the participants, 58.5% change their menstrual absorbent material 1-2 times and 28.5% change 2-3 times, 10.5% change 3-4 times, 0.75% change more than 4 times and 1.75% change only 1 time in a day. Conclution: This study reveals that menstrual perception and hygiene is not quite satisfactory among the adolescent girls / women in Pabna. Public health awareness program should be promoted as well mothers, sisters and friends need to be emphasized for freely providing menstrual related information to the adolescent girls in the family and encourage them to maintain proper hygiene during menstruation.

Keywords: Menstruation, Hygiene, Adolescent, Perception, Practices.