Menstrual Hygiene Practice among Adolescent Girls in Selective Slum Areas of Dhaka City in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is the transition period from childhood to adulthood and is widely recognized as a time of great importance due to its vulnerabilities linked with biological, physical, social, and environmental considerations.

Objective: To assess the experience of menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls in selective slum areas of Dhaka city in Bangladesh.

Methods: This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted between June and September of 2023 among 169 adolescent girls. A semi-structured questionnaire was used as tool for data collection through face to face interview. A total of 169 girls aged between 13 and 19 were included in this study.

Results: The mean age of the girls was 15.33 years. Most of the girls (71.59%) were in 13-17 years age group. The mean age at menarche was 12.38 year. 136 (80.47%) by the age of 11-14 years and 127 (75.15%) had information on menstruation before menarche from mothers 98 (27.84%). During menstruation, 118(69.82%) were using sanitary pad, 60(50.85%) girls changed pad two times a day. The reuse of cloth material was practiced by only 39(76.47%) girls; among them, only 32(82.05%) girls were using soap (detergent) to clean the cloth material. 34(87.18%) girls were drying their used cloth in sunlight. All participants bathed during menstruation and of which 127(75.15%) girls were using soap to clean the external genitalia. 111(65.68%) discarding sanitary materials in public dustbin. The main cause of choosing cloth as absorbent material over sanitary pad is financial issue for 59% of the girls.

Conclusion: The average population of females in urban slums practiced good menstrual hygiene. The findings of this study may aid governmental and non-governmental groups in developing programs to prevent health concerns during menstrual periods by improving education on menstrual hygiene habits.

International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 08 No. 01 Jan’24 Page: 79-83