Résumé
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.
Résumé
Background: Essential newborn care (ENC) provides for an opportunity to assess the infant’s growth and development and counsel mothers regarding proper newborn care. Acquainting the caregivers with knowledge pertaining to dangers signs, hygienic practices, feeding, weaning, health and nutrition including growth and behaviour of children, might affect the rearing of their children. Therefore the present study aims to study the knowledge of caregivers in relation to newborn care.Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among the caregivers attending the immunization clinic in a tertiary care centre (King George's Medical University) in Lucknow between January- March, 2016. A pretested and structured interview questionnaire was used to collect data and analysis was done using SPSS ver 16.0.Results: In Majority (75%) of the caregivers the knowledge regarding ENC was found to be average. Only 4% of the caregivers had good knowledge of ENC. Among the variables the association of knowledge of ENC and age of the caregiver< 30 years, general caste, level of education of the caregiver of high School and above, middle socioeconomic status, female sex of the newborn, birth order of 2 or more, >4 ANC visits and new born care not discussed in the VHND being conducted in the area were found to be statistically significantly.Conclusions: On the whole, the results of our study indicated that most of the caregivers were having unsatisfactory knowledge of child care practices. The present scenario can be improved through enhancing information education and counselling activities, training of health workers and mothers focusing on newborn health care practices.