Menstrual hygiene: A Cross-Sectional Study Among 1st Year Nursing Students

Background:This is a cross sectional study conducted among 1st year undergraduate female nursing students of Government Nursing College, Indore (M.P), study population- All the enrolled female nursing students of 1st year were included in the study.Objective:To assess the knowledge about menstrual hygiene among 1st year nursing students and its correlation with the socio-demographic-economic status.To assess the practices and beliefs about menstruation among 1st year nursing students and its correlation with the socio-demographic-economic status. To assess the lacuna in knowledge and practices about menstruation among 1st year nursing students so that proper education can be provided to them. Method:This study was conducted to ascertain menstrual knowledge and practices among nursing students. This group of females are the most important hierarchical pillar in regards to policy making and implementation of women health.Conclusion:We found their knowledge and practices regarding menstruation satisfactory, still education about this issue need to be imparted at the grassroot level. Anganwadi workers, health care workers, teachers etc. can play a major role in this field. Safe and hygienic menstrual practices need to be promoted by popular medium/cinema/television. All mothers irrespective of their educational status need to be taught about the importance of hygienic practices during menstruation, imparting timely and correct information regarding menses to their daughters and should be encouraged to break the age old myths and taboos regarding it. Teachers and social workers should be involved in broader perspective to bring such changes. This study focuses on nursing students but there is always a scope to conduct more such studies on various other strata of women like adolescent school girls of the area or female labours etc. belonging to similar age group. Parents, teachers, health care workers, social workers, educational media programmes etc. can play important role in spreading correct, safe, and hygienic knowledge regarding menstruation and practices associated with it in the society