Healthy menstruation: Myth or reality? Insights into urban slums of Vishakhapatnam city, India

ABSTRACT Healthy and hygienic menstruation is crucial for promoting equality and dignity among women. Menstruation is a natural physiological process which is a vital part of women's lives. Lack of menstrual health management can be a hindrance to achieving equity in terms of human rights. Menstrual health and hygiene still need priority, especially among low- and middle-income countries such as India. The present study aims to investigate the existing knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on menstrual hygiene followed by young girls in the slums of Vishakhapatnam city, Andhra Pradesh, India. This study also assesses the impact of these practices on reproductive health from the perspective of human rights based on the primary data collected from the slums of Vishakhapatnam city. The findings of the study reveal that the majority of the menstruating respondents are using disposable sanitary pads during their periods. The mother and elderly women in the family are the primary sources of initial menstrual information and awareness for girls. Furthermore, the majority of respondents are using only water to clean their genitals during menstruation. The age, private schooling, household size, access to smartphones, household income, number of living rooms and information from the teachers are the significant predictors associated with improved KAP for menstruation hygiene among the respondents.