Knowledge and Practices Regarding Menstrual Hygiene among High School Adolescent Girls (A Study of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ward No. 13 & 14)

Abstract

This research entitled Knowledge and Practices Regarding Menstrual Hygiene Among High School Adolescent Girls: A Study of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ward No. 13 & 14 is carried out for the partial fulfillment of the requirement of the course Master's in Rural Development. The main objectives of this research is to assess the knowledge and sources of information of adolescent school girls about menstruation, to identify the socio-cultural traditions and restrictions practiced during menstruation and to identify the reasons of school absenteeism during menstruation. Three research questions are made to address the objective of the study. A quantitative research design is used for the study under which survey method is used as main tools. For My research out of 7 government school in Kathmandu 13 & 14 as a sample only 3 government schools including Jana Prabhat Secondary School (40 girls, Kalimati-13, Kathmandu), N il Barahi Secondary School (78 girls, Tankeshwor Kalimati, Kathmandu-13) and Kuleshowor Awash Secondary School (78 girls, Kuleshowor-14 Kathmandu) total 190 girls students as a sampling are taken as respondents. After collecting the data, the data are analyzed by using statistical tools and represented in charts and diagrams. After collecting the information from field this research try to address the answers of all research questions. After analysis of the data it can be concluded that family members (mother, sisters, cousin sisters, grandmother) are the major source of information of menstruation for adolescent girls. The knowledge generally transform from mother to daughter. This knowledge is not enough because still some girls have miss conception about menstruation periods and cycle. Girls still do not have good hygiene practices. They still use clothes during menstruation. However the number of such girls who are using cloths is lesser, that indicates that girls are now conscious about their health. Still more than half girls do not bath IV

regularly during the menstruation period and about 75% girls do not use soap for cleaning the vaginal part during the menstruation. Still 40% girls do not stay in their own room during the menstruation period and some of them are sent to their neighbor’s house as well. The superstitions of untouchability during the menstruation are almost there in every household. They are not allowed to enter and work in the kitchen during the menstruation period. It means the family members restrict the girls for doing rituals activities and other household’s activities during menstruation periods. Still half of the girls do not go schools on the first day of the menstruation. Among many reasons the common reason for this is health problem. The girls feel physically weak during the time and some even feel severe pain so they could not attend their class.