Menstrual hygiene practices among adolescents of selected tea estates of Golaghat District, Assam, with a view to provide awareness on menstrual health and hygiene: a descriptive study

Abstract

Background: Menstruation is a normal biological process, and adolescent girls often are unaware when they experience menarche. Unhygienic menstruation can cause severe health risks, which may lead to respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs), and further may result in infertility and complications during birthing process. Menstruation is still a taboo in many parts of India and women are still behaved in a different way when on periods.

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in selected tea-estates of Golaghat district, Assam from 21 September 2024 to 17 January 2025 among 759 adolescents aged 10-19 year fulfilling the sample selection criteria using multi-stage random sampling technique. Self-structured socio-demographic questionnaires and standardized open access, Menstrual practice needs scale 36 tool was administered and an awareness program on menstrual health and hygiene was given to them thereafter.

Results: The study findings reveal that menstrual hygiene practice need was found to be significantly associated with religion, monthly family income, type of material used during menstruation, disposal method of used menstrual material, education, residence, source of information about menstruation, type of family, age and frequency of changing of menstrual materials once get wet in a day.

Conclusions: Improvement in menstrual health and hygiene practices among adolescents of tea-estates can be established by promoting overall well-being, dignity and empowerment of adolescents.