A cross-sectional community-based study on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to menstruation among women of the reproductive age group: A protocol article (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Menstruation remains a taboo subject in many developing countries, leading to a lack of awareness and inadequate hygiene practices. Scheduled Caste (SC) women are one of the most socio-culturally deprived groups, often facing barriers to education and essential healthcare resources. Limited educational opportunities limit their awareness of proper menstrual hygiene, making them more likely to adopt unhygienic practices. Despite this vulnerability, information on their knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to menstruation, including Rajaswala Paricharya (guidelines to be followed during menstruation), remains scarce. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study is to estimate KAP regarding menstruation among Scheduled Castes women of reproductive age. The secondary objectives are to explore variations in KAP across different geographical regions and reproductive age groups, and to examine the influence of the education and occupation of the participants and their mothers on KAP. METHODS This multi-centre, community-based, cross-sectional study has been conducted in areas predominantly inhabited by the SC community. The women aged 15–49 who provide informed consent/assent have been enrolled in the study. Data have been collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested and validated KAP questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 1,400 participants were enrolled in the study through a door-to-door survey. This paper represents the baseline protocol; the detailed analysis and results will be reported in a subsequent publication. CONCLUSIONS This study will estimate the current status of menstrual KAP including Rajaswala Paricharya (RP) among Scheduled Caste women. Furthermore, the findings are expected to serve as a foundation for the development of targeted public health strategies and the design of equitable, culturally sensitive menstrual health interventions