Comparison of Knowledge and Practices of Menstrual Hygiene among Urban and Rural Secondary School Girls in Faisalabad

Abstract

Objective: To compare menstrual hygiene knowledge and practice among urban and rural school’s girls, in Faisalabad.

Methodology: This Comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Sacred Heart Convent High School Faisalabad and Government Girls Higher Secondary School Khurrianwala from June to Sept 2024 , among 200 urban and 200 rural school girls aged 13-16 years studied in 8^th to 10^th grade in Faisalabad. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was used. Girls who had experienced menarche and were present in school at the time of data collection were included and those who were sick and absent were excluded from the study. Data entry and analysis were computed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics and a chi-square test were used. A p-value less than or equal to 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.

Results : A large number of urban 103(53.09) and rural 156(79.18) schoolgirls did not hear about menstrual hygiene before menarche. One hundred and twenty-five (64.46%) urban schoolgirls know that it is a physiological process but the majority of rural schoolgirls 146(74.11%) don’t know about it. The majority of urban 184(94.98) and rural 195(98.98) schoolgirls think that school latrines are not comfortable for changing sanitary material. The majority of schoolgirls 193(99.4%) urban and 197(100%) rural change their sanitary pads every day during menstruation.

Conclusion: Knowledge regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene was poor in the number of participants. It also reveals that the school environment is not convenient for changing and disposing of pads. It is recommended, to gain SDGs, the government should advance and implement a curriculum including reproductive health and concerns related to menstruation