Perceptions and practices regarding menstruation: A comparative study in urban and rural adolescent girls.

Adolescence in girls is a turbulent period which includes stressful events like menarche considered as a landmark of female puberty. One might expect that menarche will be positively received by young women; however negative responses such as shame fear anxiety and depression are more common. The manner in which a girl learns about menstruation and its associated changes may have an impact on her response to the event of menarche. Myth mystery and superstition have long enveloped the facts about menstruation. In India even mere mention of the topic has been a taboo in the past and even to this date the cultural and social influences appear to be hurdle for advancement of the knowledge of the subject. The social practices about menstruation make girl child feel subnormal and may hamper her development. Menarche may remain a traumatic event for her unless she is prepared for it. Adolescent girls constitute a vulnerable group particularly in India where female child is neglected one. Most studies on female adolescence focus on the gynecological problems but problems of nutritional and psychological origin cannot be ignored. Hence present study was undertaken to assess the 1) source of information regarding menstruation 2) reaction to first and subsequent menstruation 3) taboos and restrictions as result of menstruation and 4) hygiene practiced during menstruation. (excerpt)