Menstrual Practices and Reproductive Problems: A Study of Adolescent Girls in Rajasthan

This article sheds light on some important issues related to menstrual practices and its association with reproductive morbidity among girls. The study indicates that a significantly large proportion of girls were not aware of menstruation when they first experienced it. Mothers, sisters and friends were found to be the major source of information. Much of this information imparted to a young girl is in the form of restrictions on her movements and behaviour. More than three-fourths reported using old cloth during menstruation, and a large proportion of them were reusing the same during subsequent periods. Regression analysis in this study identified schooling, residential status, occupation of father, caste and exposure to media to be the major predictors of safe menstrual practices among adolescent girls in Rajasthan. Importantly; this study found a significantly strong relationship between practices during menstruation and prevalence (reported symptoms) of RTIs. The prevalence of RTIs was more than three times higher among girls having unsafe menstrual practices The article makes a strong case that ignorance, false perceptions and unsafe practices regarding menstruation are not uncommon among adolescents in the study area, having serious implications for reproductive and sexual health. Further, the study demonstrates that among the determinants for reproductive morbidity, practices during menstruation appear to be the most dominant factor. These findings reinforce the need to bring them out of traditional beliefs, misconceptions and restrictions, and encourage safe and hygienic practices.