Menstrual Practices among Medical Students in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Central Kerala

Abstract

Introduction: Menstruation is a part of women’s healthy well-being. The objective of this study was to assess the
menstrual hygiene practises among female medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Central Kerala.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 among 225 female undergraduate
MBBS students aged 18–25 years in a tertiary health care facility in Kerala. The data was collected using an expert
validated semi-structured questionnaire after obtaining informed consent from the participants via Google Forms.
The universal sampling technique was used, and the data was analysed with SPSS version 20.0.
Results: The mean age of the study participants was 21.65 ± 1.34 years and 91.1% were from the APL socioeconomic
category. 95.5% of participants were using disposable sanitary pads. The frequency of washing external genitalia
and changing sanitary products were adequate in 69.4% and 33.8% respectively. The common mode of disposal of
menstrual products were burning(50.2%), incineration(34.7%) and discarded into general waste(8.9%). 66.7% were
not allowed to do religious activities during menstruation.
Conclusion: Most of participants used disposable sanitary pads. The frequency of changing sanitary products and
their disposal was found to be inadequate. Menstruation related myths were common among participants.