LEVEL AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG SCHOOL-GOING ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN RURAL JUMLA DISTRICT, NEPAL

Abstract

Background: Mensuration is a natural process that occurs to women of reproductive age regularly throughout the reproductive years. Many Girls in developing countries do not have adequate knowledge and education about menstrual health before they start their menstruation. This study aimed to determine level of knowledge and its associated factors regarding menstrual hygiene among School-Going Adolescent Girls in rural Jumla district, Nepal.

Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural area of Jumla district, Nepal, among 430 young adolescent girls, during January 2022- August 2022. Among 12 secondary schools of Jumla, 7 government secondary school were selected randomly by using lottery method. The data was analyzed using chi-square test. p value <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean age was 17.1 (±1.14) years and the average age of menarche was 14 (±1.30) years. A total of 62.1% of them had good knowledge regarding menstruation and its management. There was statistically significant association among the grade of participants (p value0.014), mother’s education (p value: 0.039) and known about menstruation before the start of menarche (p value 0.001).

Conclusions: The majority of the adolescent’s girls had good knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene, however there was a knowledge gap in specific areas. Knowledge level of menstrual hygiene was significantly associated with the grade of participants, mother’s education and known about mensuration before the start of menarche. The study suggested that girls in rural areas need more education on menstrual hygiene, taking into account of these factors.