Impact factor: 3.958/ICV: 4.10 ISSN:

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1 Impact factor: 3.958/ICV: 4.10 ISSN: Pharma Science Monitor 8(3), Jul-Sep 2017 PHARMA SCIENCE MONITOR AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES Journal home page: CREATING AWARENESS ON MENSTRUAL HYGIENE IN ADULT WORKING WOMEN OF SILVASSA REGION: A SUPPORTIVE INITIATIVE Drashti Bhavsar 1 *, Dave Nikki 1, Chirag K Desai 2 1 B.Pharm, Smt. B.N.B. Swaminarayan Pharmacy College, Salvav 2 HOD, Department of Pharmacology, Smt. B.N.B. Swaminarayan Pharmacy College, Salvav ABSTRACT Currently majority of epidemiological studies and research on menstrual disorders across the countries indicate that menstrual hygiene is prime concern for every country for their women empowerment. As government and many nongovernmental organizations are serving for it continuously but still it needs support form community pharmacist for better education and awareness amongst adult women. The current study was done with an intention to study and made awareness about menstrual hygiene in working women of silvassa region. There were 3 basic parameters like basic information about menstruation, awareness on menstrual hygiene, source of information were assessed during the study. The study was randomized open label questionnaire based feedback analysis study by using percentage analysis tool for data analysis. The questionnaire was prepared under the supervision of clinical pharmacist. From the analysis of result 90% participants had knowledge about menstruation and it s caused by physiological and hormones induced condition. 80% of participants have regular periods and bleeding. But only 72% have symptoms related knowledge in menstruation. 88% were not aware regarding world menstrual hygiene day. Only 41 % are carrying precautionary sanitary napkins with them. These results indicate participants know the basics regarding menstruation but lack of information regarding hygiene and precautionary measures available this days. Continuous awareness programs by community pharmacist will be more fruitful for healthcare development. KEYWORDS: Menstrual hygiene, sanitary napkins, women empowerment. INTRODUCTION Menstrual hygiene and disorders are current major health related obstacles for women empowerment in India. The basic information regarding menstrual hygiene to every woman has been available through government healthcare centers and hospitals. But the main target population for such kind of information or awareness is tribal population and coastal regions where still old myths and perceptions are prevailing in women. For development of healthier India community pharmacist needs to reach out to such population for spreading awareness. Menarche is a phase of turbulent growth in female when large number of physical, sexual organs and psychological changes occurs. Menstruation is a e event in a girl s life and the beginning of reproductive life. 1, 2 So all basics of menstruation needs to be understood by adolescent girls.

2 Impact factor: 3.958/ICV: 4.10 ISSN: Large number of girls has scant knowledge about menstruation until their first experience because menstruation is something that is not frequently talked off in homes. The information is passed from mother to daughter which is often not sufficient, sometimes even incorrect. This insufficient knowledge and poor personal hygienic practices can lead to various gynecological problems including reproductive tract infections. Research indicates that a vast information gap exists among rural as well as urban adolescent girls regarding prior awareness about menstruation and menstrual hygiene which do have impact on the practices during menstruation. The reason for this study was to spread awareness on menstruation and menstrual hygiene in union territory area and assess the perception and knowledge of participants. There are possibilities exist that girls still do not get the proper knowledge due to lack of time to time supportive health education programs in schools or familiar exposure at home and surroundings. Even, the older society in India still considers talks on such topics are not so good or flexible for open discussion on these issues. This all issue on aggravation leads to intense mental stress and mental disturbances. Even less familiar environment at home may forced girl to retrieve information from unauthorized sources who do not have sufficient scientific and required clinical information. Menstruation is still considered something unclean or dirty in Indian society. 3-5 The information related menstrual hygiene can be best conveyed by family members, schools and colleges, communication media and government agencies through community pharmacist. This task can be are supported by nongovernmental organizations and private charity based organizations. In addition of it students of pharmacy background can involve in spreading awareness as a supportive initiative for better healthcare system of our country. 3-5 METHODOLOGY The study designed is questionnaire based survey method and the target population is adult (18-30 years) working women of silvassa region. There were 128 women given their consent regarding the survey study but only 100 have completed the full answers during the study. The received data were entered in Microsoft excel were analyzed using percentage analysis method. Their Knowledge, awareness regarding menstruation and hygienic practices during menstruation was assessed. The leaflet in local language to spread awareness on menstruation hygiene was also given to all participants. 6-8 RESULT AND DISCUSSION At the end of the survey based study with an intention to spread awareness was satisfactory. 88% participants were not aware about world menstruation awareness day. Average age of participants attained menarche was found to be around 14 years of age. 4 % of participants

3 Impact factor: 3.958/ICV: 4.10 ISSN: attained late and 15% were not having exact idea regarding it. The basic assessment result regarding awareness on menstruation and hygiene were as follow. Table 1. Awareness points evaluated in the questionnaire Parameters evaluated % Awareness % not aware What is menstruation Symptoms of menstruation Aware about menstrual hygiene Aware about premenstrual symptoms Do you have awareness session in school Do you have awareness session with Family members In above mention tabled answer 90 % participants responded that cause of menstruation is physiological changes and sex hormones are involved in such changes. Amongst them 72% were aware about symptoms like backpain, abdominal pain as sequential events of menstruation. Regarding the routine menstruation hygiene practices following responses were obtained. Table 2. Evaluation of routine menstrual hygiene maintaining practices amongst participants. Parameters evaluated % Responded yes % responded No Are you using sanitary napkins for maintaining hygiene Are you disposing napkins in dustbin Are you keeping precautionary napkins during periods Are you sharing general information of menstrual hygiene with colleagues Have you inform other women regarding practices of maintaining menstrual hygiene Amongst 90% of participants using sanitary napkins 60% are changing napkins thrice a day. Even 59% participants were not keeping sanitary napkins as a precautionary measure during menstruation so detail information regarding what should be done if sanitary napkin is not available and importance of keeping sanitary napkins during menstruation were explained to all

4 Impact factor: 3.958/ICV: 4.10 ISSN: the participants. Even few myths or perception of target population regarding menstruation prevailing were also obtained like 18% participants responded not wash hair during first five days of bleeding, 22% responded not to enter in kitchen during first five days. As India is belongs to various different perception populations so this factors are un-avoided in any study on menstruations hygiene. 51% participants answered lack of awareness regarding the various government initiatives for women health and hygiene concerns. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION The awareness initiative program like this to must be arranged regularly to support government for better healthcare development. Awareness regarding the menstrual hygiene practice among young women is needed to be revised regularly. It is possible that new informative methods or options to provide knowledge about menstrual health and self-maintenance among women implemented for better outcome. No doubts many research and non government and government agencies are working on health and hygiene of women nowadays but contribution of community pharmacist might be more conceptual and supportive. Further works regarding awareness can be done on current trending status and information regarding sanitary market products and their usefulness during menstruation at various tribal and coastal areas in India. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors are thankful to all the participants for their support and cooperation during study. REFERENCES 1. Paul D. A report of an ICMR funded research project: Knowledge and practices of adolescent girls regarding reproductive health with special emphasis on hygiene during menstruation. New Delhi: National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD); Pages: Rupali Patle et al. Menstrual Hygiene in Rural and Urban Adolescent, International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health, 2014, Volume: 3(2). 3. Singh MM, Devi R, Gupta SS. Awareness and health seeking behavior of rural adolescent school girls on menstrual and reproductive health problems. Indian Journal of Medical Science, 1999; Volume 53: pages: Shanbhag D, Shilpa R, D Souza N, Josephine P, Singh J, Goud BR. Perceptions regarding menstruation and practices during menstrual cycles among high school going adolescent girls in resource limited settings around Bangalore city, Karnataka, India. International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine and Public Health, 2012; Volume 4(7): pages:

5 Impact factor: 3.958/ICV: 4.10 ISSN: Tarhane S, Kasulkar A, Awareness of adolescent girls regarding menstruation and practices during menstrual cycle, Panacea Journal of Medical Science, 2015: Volume 5(1);Pages: Seenivasan P, K. Caroline Priya, Arthi E, Gaviya G, Kanchana Devi, Karunya C, Midhuna G, Priyadharshini R, Priyadharshini S, A cross sectional study on awareness about menstrual hygiene among rural women, Stanely medical journal,2015: Volume 2(2): Pages: Desai C, Bhandari K, Dr A M Desai, Dr. B N Shah, Community Awareness on Sickle cell anemia in Tribal area: An Initiative, JPSBR, 2014, Volume 4(6), Pages: Maaz Z, Khan S, Khoja S, Khan U, Desai C. A Step towards Community Awareness on Acne: An Initiative One. Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Bio-scientific Research, 2014, Volume 5(1): Pages: