RESUMO
@#Hygienic practices during menstruation are of great importance. The lack of which increases emotional distress, anxiety, low self-esteem, feeling unclean and discrimination as well as the susceptibility of an individual to reproductive tract infections. This prospective study was an assessment of female students’ perception (knowledge, attitude and practices) regarding menstrual hygiene management (MHM) at the School of Medicine and Health Science (SMHS), University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). Pretested questionnaire was distributed to 80 female students using a quantitative approach for data collection after obtaining ethical clearance. The responses were recorded in Excel Spread sheets. The data was statistically analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2013. All the participants learned through education that menstruation is a natural process in all females after puberty. Majority (90%) of the participants agreed with the proposed concept of free-distribution of sanitary pads to all female students by the SMHS student services. Further research on menstrual management options that are practical, sustainable and culturally acceptable must be conducted to inform future programs and policies that aim to empower young girls as they transition into womanhood.
RESUMO
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.