Online ISSN: 2515-8260

Knowledge and Practice on menstrual hygiene among specially abled (Deaf & Dumb) adolescent Girls at selected centres in Bhubaneswar, Odisha State -A Pilot Project.

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Serma Subathra Arunachalam1 , Asha P Shetty1 , ShyamaDevi1 , Karthick Murugesan1 , Shankar Shanmugam Rajendran2.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Disabilities are nuanced and multifaceted; 15% of the world's population is disabled and has trouble working. Deaf and dumb cause major lifestyle changes and habits among adolescent girls that lead to physical, psychological, and social adjustment issues. Menstruation is a normal physiological process every teenage girl experiences every month. The ability to manage menstruation hygienically is essential to the dignity and wellbeing of women, which is an integral part of basic hygiene, sanitation and reproductive health services. Objective: To determine the existing knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene among speciallyabled adolescent girls at selectedcentres inBhubaneswar(BBSR). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2020 and November 2020 in Bhubaneswar town of Odisha. Total census sample of 22 deaf and mute adolescent girls from B.B.C Govt High School for the Deaf (Unit III), Bhubaneswar. A questionnaire consisting of three parts namely Part A: Sociodemographic and obstetrical and gynaecological information; Part B: Menstrual hygiene knowledge questionnaire; and Part C: Menstrual hygiene practice checklist. Results:The finding of the study reported that 45.46 per cent had moderately adequate knowledge on menstrual hygiene; 27 per cent of study participants had proportionately inadequate and adequate knowledge of menstrual hygiene, and 86.37 per cent had reported good practice in menstrual hygiene.The Mean and SD of Knowledge score was 37.958 ,Practice was 8.50 and Karl Pearson Correlation (r =0.26, p=0.23) estimated that there was no significant positive fair correlation between knowledge score and practice score. Conclusion: Good menstrual hygiene triggers women's health, trust and self-esteem and is linked to gender equality and fundamental human rights. Setting realistic time-limited targets, including education (Videos and Information Booklets) on hygienic practices followed during menstruation using sign language for deaf and mute adolescent girls, would be a welcome effort to provide basic hygiene and reproductive services to specially-enabled girls and women.

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