Menstrual Health Management among Medical Students as a Consequence of Menstrual Health Policies in India- A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Healthy menstrual hygiene management (MHM) includes the usage of safe materials, assess to privacy, cleaning private parts with soap and water and safe disposal of the menstrual material. However, insufficient/ inaccurate knowledge, lack of support and resources are some challenges responsible for knowledge and practice gaps seen in relation to menstruation among adolescents. The cultural, psychosocial, environmental and economic aspects of menstruations are inadequately addressed by the MHM programmes in India. Objectives: To assess the knowledge and practices related to menstruation on attaining menarche, menstrual health and its environmental impact and to determine the hygienic practices and experiences during menstruation among female medical students. Materials and Methods: Cross section study among female students using self-administered questionnaire was conducted in a medical college in Karnataka. Results: The average age of the students was 20.46 ± 1.35 years and age of menarche was13.25 ± 1.302 years. Majority of them (93.1%) received information about menstruation before menarche, mainly from their mothers (61%), used sanitary pads (90.1%), nearly 61.4% had satisfactory hygienic practices, and however disposal of the menstrual products, knowledge related to environmental and economic impact was poor among 80% of the students. Most of the students 75.5% followed some social and cultural restrictions during menarche and 42.8% missed college during their last menstrual cycle. Conclusion: Gaps in knowledge related to menstrual health, dysmennohrea, waste disposal, hygienic practices, psychosocial aspects, environmental impact and reusable products emphasis attention through MHM programme ensuring social integration and reduce discrimination or stigmatization.