Menstrual Hygiene Practice and Nutritional Status among Adolescent Girls of Gadaba Tribe of Koraput District, Odisha

Adolescence is an important phase of life that bridges childhood and adulthood.This represents a transitional period with biophysical, psychosocial, and physiological development.It is one of the most vulnerable times for female reproductive health.This phase requires an adequate diet and nutrition for proper development and growth.Along with good nutrition, proper menstrual hygiene is essential to ensure the overall health of adolescent females.The study aims to provide insight into menstrual hygiene practices, along with the age at menarche, patterns of menstruation, and sources of knowledge regarding menstruation, and the nutritional status among adolescent girls of the Gadaba tribe in the Koraput district of Odisha.A total of 142 girls aged 10-19 years were selected using purposive sampling from different school hostels and households.Inclusion criteria were an age between 10 and 19 years, female sex, belonging to the Gadaba tribe, and a willingness to participate.Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire.The study found that out of 133 participants, 93.7% had already attained menarche, while the mean age at menarche was 12 years.Furthermore, 35% reported an irregular menstrual cycle, and 51% experienced menstrual discomfort.About 49% used only sanitary pads, 3% used only cloth and 48% used both.Most of the participants received knowledge of menstruation from mother (46.5%), followed by friends (24.6%), sisters (16.9%), and teachers (12%).As per body mass index (BMI) classification, 91.5% were normal and 7.74% were underweight.This study revealed that most of the girls used both cloth and sanitary napkins; however, they preferred to use cloth during the initial days of their menstrual cycle when there was a heavy flow.The menstrual absorbent cloths were often reused without adequate washing or sun-drying, thereby increasing the risk of reproductive tract infections.This practice is reinforced by sociocultural taboos that discourage the exposure of menstrual materials to male members or other family members within the household.