KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS OF JORHAT DISTRICT OF ASSAM ON PERSONAL HYGIENE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
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Date
2021
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AAU, Jorhat
Abstract
The present investigation was conducted to study the “Knowledge and practice of adolescent girls of Jorhat district of Assam on personal hygiene with special reference to menstrual hygiene” with objectives : (i) To study the background profile of adolescent girls (ii) To assess the existing knowledge of respondents on personal hygiene with special reference to menstrual hygiene (iii) To identify the existing practice of respondents on personal hygiene with special reference to menstrual hygiene. The study was conducted in one Educational Block of Jorhat District of Assam namely Jorhat Educational Block. Twenty five (out of total 32 clusters) numbers of clusters having high school or higher secondary school were considered for the present study. As there are 20 clusters situated in rural area and 5 clusters are in the urban area, 50 per cent clusters of rural areas that is 10 nos. and 50 per cent clusters of urban areas that is 3 nos. were selected randomly for the present study. One high school or higher secondary school from each cluster was selected by using simple random sampling method. Thus, all total 13 numbers of high schools or higher secondary schools were considered for present study, 10 schools from rural and 3 schools from urban area were selected for the present study. From the total number, thirty percent girls belonging to 15 years to 19 years (late adolescent) were the respondents for the present study. Thus, all total 142 numbers of late adolescent girls (15-19 years of age belonging to class IX to XI) from the rural area and 112 numbers of late adolescent girls totaling 254 numbers of late adolescent girls from both rural and urban area of Jorhat district were the respondents for the present study to assess knowledge and practice of personal hygiene with special reference to menstrual hygiene. The study revealed that a higher percentage of respondents in both rural and urban area belonged to the age group of 15-17 years and respondents from both the areas respondents attained menarche at the age of 13-15 years. The study revealed that majority of the total respondents had no separate bathroom in their house for using during menstrual period. It is found that ‘menstrual hygiene’ is included in the syllabus of school. Majority of the respondent discussed about menstrual hygiene with their family. The findings showed that majority of the total respondents that nearly 53 per cent respondents had attended training on menstrual hygiene and remaining respondents who had not attended any training on menstruation were interested in obtaining training on menstruation. More than 36 per cent respondents had the menstrual cycle with the interval of 28 days. Nearly 78 per cent respondents did not consult with doctor if face any problem regarding menstruation and they did not use any local (indigenous) medicine during menstrual period. The study showed that higher percentage of respondents from both the rural and urban area had medium level of knowledge on personal hygiene with special reference to menstrual hygiene. The study also revealed that a higher percentage of overall respondents that is 69.29 per cent belonged to “moderate” category on menstrual hygiene practice. The study showed that there was highly positive significant relationship of menstrual hygiene knowledge with independent variable such as mass media exposure and there was positive significant relationship of menstrual hygiene knowledge with independent variable such as training attended. There was highly positive significant relationship of menstrual hygiene practice and independent variable such as size of the family and training attended. There was positive significant relationship of respondents’ knowledge on menstrual hygiene with their practice on menstrual hygiene in rural area.