Empirical Analysis on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices : Puberty and Menstrual Hygiene

Puberty and menstruation bring major physical and mental changes in a girl's life; they mark the beginning of procreation. In many countries lackof knowledge and poor hygienic practices during menstruation lead to serious illness ranging from genital tract infections and urinary tract infections to bad odor. This study on Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) aims to understand the awareness level of menstrual health and hygiene among adolescent girls, and the study also focuses on identifying the average age of attaining menarche among early adolescent girls and the problems associated with menstruation. To meet the above objective, a sample of 187 responses was collected by using questionnaires. The various statistical tools that have been used are Reliability Test, Correlation, Chi-square, and Linear Regression analysis. According to the study, most early adolescent girls attain menarche at an early age, and so it is necessary to educate school children about health and hygiene practices during menstruation. Mothers and teachers should educate adolescent girls about hygienic practices and remove the social stigma surrounding menstruation. This paper also covers the feminist view on menstruation which affects women, girls, and non-binary and transgender people across the world. It is an issue that intersects with race, class, culture, and religion and therefore has the power to engage us in a global effort towards equality.