Research Proposal for Osmecon Sympo
By 2k21 batch
Silent Cycles:
Knowledge, Attitude
and Practices Analysis of
Menstrual Hygiene
Practices and Social
Taboos in Rural Families.
Introduction
The menstrual cycle is a typical
biological phenomenon that has been
highly stigmatized in our society, it is
often surrounded by myths,
misconceptions, and cultural taboos.
The topic of menstruation is avoided
by society. For young girls, this causes
a great deal of inconvenience. Due to
their lack of knowledge, individuals
frequently hold false beliefs.
These beliefs can significantly impact the health and
well-being of adolescent girls, particularly in rural
and less educated communities. A sizable fraction of
the population including literates were discovered to
harbour misconceptions about menstruation, such
as the belief that menstrual blood is dirty and that
certain activities should be restricted during
menstruation.
These beliefs are deeply ingrained and
are often passed down through
generations, leading to practices that can
be harmful to women's health and dignity.
Social prohibitions and the negative
attitude of parents in discussing the
related issues openly, have blocked the
access of adolescent girls to the right
kind of information, especially in the rural
and tribal communities .
1
Research shows that men and women often do not
converse freely about menstruation. Shame, taboos
and myths associated with menstruation silence the
conversation. The government has provided various
facilities to increase the level of awareness in the
rural areas through strengthening Anganwadis and
ANM workers.
However, the awareness level has not changed much, to
which there is an increase in the maternal health and
menstrual health related issues. Having the skills,
resources, and cultural context needed to manage
menstruation hygienically is a top concern for women and
girls.
Studies have shown that poor
menstrual knowledge and access to
sanitary products have been
proposed as barriers to menstrual
health and school attendance among
women and adolescent girls .
3
Infections due to lack of hygiene
during menstruation have been
reported in many studies.
This study mainly focuses on taboos
and myths commonly encountered in
rural families,and attempts to
address the issue by dispelling such
widespread misconceptions.
Objectives
• To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to
menstrual hygiene among women, girls, and families in rural
areas.
• To identify the social and cultural barriers that hinder effective
menstrual hygiene management.
• To evaluate the impact of education and awareness programs
on menstrual hygiene practices.
• To develop recommendations for interventions that promote
improved menstrual hygiene and address cultural taboos.
Methodology:
Study Design: Quasi-experimental Pretest-
posttest design
Study Setting: Rural Village in Nizamabad
Study Population: Subjects in the age 12-60
from various families in a rural village in
Nizamabad
Sample Size: About 300 individuals (men and
women in the ages of 12-60 from various
families), depending on availability.
Study duration: 30 days
Inclusion criteria:
1. Subjects who are above 12 years and below 60 years.
2. Subjects who are willing to participate.
Exclusion criteria:
1. Subjects who are not willing to participate.
Sample and Data Collection:
• Informed consent will be taken for all the subjects enrolled in this study.
• Identification data will be taken. A close ended questionnaire is prepared
assessing the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding menstruation will be
provided to the subjects.
• Necessary education is provided and the subjects are assessed again with the
questionnaire.
Statistical tools:
Data will be entered into Microsoft Excel data sheet and will be
analysed using SPSS 24 version software. Continuous data is
represented as mean and standard deviation. Categorical data will
be represented in the form of frequencies and proportions (%).
Appropriate statistical tests will be used. P value (probability that
the result is true) of less than 0.05 was considered as statistical
significance after assuming all the results of statistical tests.
Ethical Considerations:
Approval from the Institution Ethics Committee will be taken and
beforehand consent will be obtained orally or in writing from
patients, and confidentiality will be maintained by keeping names
and other identifying information anonymous.
Implications
• Enhance awareness on menstrual hygiene and
practices to combat societal stigmas and taboos.
• Foster education to promote open dialogue and
normalize discussions around menstrual health in
communities.
References
1.Mudey AB, Kesharwani N, Mudey GA, Goyal RC. A Cross-sectional
Study on Awareness Regarding Safe and Hygienic Practices amongst
School Going Adolescent Girls in Rural Area of Wardha District, India.
Global Journal of Health Science. 2010 Sep 17;2(2).
2. Rajak I. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works
for She Got Her Period: Men’ s Knowledge and Perspectives on
Menstruation [Internet]. 2015. Available from:
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1428&c
ontext=etds
3.Vashisht A, Pathak R, Agarwalla R, Patavegar BN, Panda M. School
absenteeism during menstruation amongst adolescent girls in Delhi,
India. Journal of family & community medicine [Internet].
2018;25(3):163–8. Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6130156/
