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Socio-demographic predictors of Menstrual Hygiene Practices as key determinant of RTI among

ever-married ‘in-migrant’ women

of Dehradun

Authors:

Singh Sadhna,Kandpal SD,Roy D

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Background:

Considering huge burden of RTI across community based study settings, menstrual hygiene practices by reproductive age group women have documented evidence of being a key determinant of RTI and bearing causal association with Socio-demographic attributes.

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Objectives:

1. Study menstrual hygiene practices of ever-married ‘in-migrant’ women from Dehradun as a key determinant of RH needs.

2. Establish causal association between menstrual hygiene practices and (i) key socio-demographic attributes (ii) RTI

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Material & Method:

An observational (cross-sectional) study was designed with a probability sample of 965 ever-married women of 15-49 yrs from 06 ‘make-shift settlements’/slums along immediate precincts i.e 50 meters into the mainland from the banks of rivers- all in the district of Dehradun.

Distribution of study population by use of cloth during menses

Menstrual hygiene Practices

No. of Respondents

Percentage

Use of cloth during mensesUsed clothFresh clothSanitary padsHome- made pads

101605127132

10.4662.6913.1613.67

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Used cloth Fresh cloth Sanitary pads Home- made pads0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

10.46

62.69

13.16 13.67

Distribution of study population by use of cloth during menses

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Distribution of study subjects according to

menstrual hygiene practices and literacy

Menstrual hygiene Literacy Level of

Significance (p)

Illiterate(n=671) Literate(n=294)

Used Cloth 92 13 0.000032

Fresh Cloth 492 105 0.0000000

Sanitary pads 20 110 0.0000000

Home- made pads 67 66 0.0000004

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Used Cloth Fresh Cloth Sanitary pads Home- made pads0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

13.71

73.32

2.98

9.99

4.42

35.71 37.41

22.45

Distribution of study subjects according to menstrual hygiene practices and literacy

Illiterate(n=671) Literate(n=294)

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Distribution of Study Subjects according to Menstrual Hygiene Practice and Religion

Menstrual Hygiene practices

Religion Level of significance (p)

Hindu Muslim

Used cloth 70(8.34%) 15(14.42%) 0.041

Fresh cloth 530(63.18%)

62(59.62%) 0.421

Sanitary pads 112(14.54%) 18(17.31%) 0.605

Home- made pads 127(15.14%)

9(8.65%) 0.075

10

Used cloth Fresh cloth Sanitary pads Home- made pads0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

8.34

63.18

14.54 15.1414.42

59.62

17.31

8.65

Distribution of study subjects according to menstrual hygiene practice and religion

Hindu (n=839) Muslim (n=104)

Perc

enta

ge

Distribution of study subjects according

to menstrual hygiene practice and SES

Menstrual hygiene practice of using

Socio-economic status Level of significance

Upper class (n=179)

Lower class (n=786)

Used cloth 5(2.80%) 84(10.69%) 0.00093

Fresh cloth 71(39.66%) 546(69.46%) 0.0000000

Sanitary pad 57(31.84%) 68(8.65%) 0.0000000

Home- made pad 46(25.70%) 88(11.19%) 0.0000004

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Used cloth Fresh cloth Sanitary pad Home- made pad0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2.8

39.66

31.84

25.7

10.69

69.46

8.6511.19

Distribution of study subjects according to menstrual hygiene practice and SES

Upper class (n=179) Lower class (n=786)

Perc

enta

ge

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Menstrual Hygiene Practice and RTI/STI- Distribution of study subjects according to

menstrual hygiene and RTI/STISymptomsof RTI/STI

Menstrual hygiene practice (n=965) Level of significance

Used cloth (n=101)

Fresh cloth (n=605)

Sanitarypads

(n=127)

Home-made pads (n=132)

Vaginaldischarge

88(87.13%) 137(14.19%) 27(2.79%) 21(2.17%) 0.000

Itching 46(45.54%) 86(8.91%) 14(1.45%) 11(1.13%) 0.000

Boils 20(19.80%) 37(3.83%) 9(0.93%) 3(0.31%) 0.000

Pain lower abdomen

54(53.46%) 95(9.84%) 18(1.86%) 19(1.96%) 0.000

Pain during sexual intercourse

42(41.58%) 95(9.84%) 20(2.07%) 18(1.86%) 0.000

Backache 73(72.28%) 104(17.19%) 17(2.79%) 25(2.59%) 0.000

Lymph-adenopathy

3(2.97%) 11(1.81%) 2(0.20%) 0(0%) 0.000

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Used cloth (n=101) Fresh cloth (n=605) Sanitary pads (n=127)

Home-made pads (n=132)

0102030405060708090

10087

14

3 2

46

9

1 1

20

41 1

53

10

2 2

42

10

2 2

72

17

3 33 2 1 0

Distribution of study subjects according to menstrual hygiene and RTI/STI

Vaginal discharge Itching Boils Pain lower abdomen

Pain during sexual intercourse Backache Lymph-adenopathy

Per

cen

tag

e

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Results:

The present study findings revealed that as a key determinant of RH needs, menstrual hygiene practices of the study population bore significant statistical association with their Socio demographic attributes & key RTI symptoms.