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| Assessing the Perception of Risk Factors Associated With Unhygienic Use of Sanitary Pads in Kerala, India
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Therese Mathew , Arshamol Varghese , Tany Maritta George , Shaji George
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Abstract:
AIM To assess the knowledge, sources of information, hygiene status and menstrual problems of females while using sanitary pads. METHODOLOGY The investigation was conducted as an observational, cross-sectional study among females aged between 11 and 55 years in Kerala, India during the lockdown period. The study was carried out by circulating google forms to about 1200 females with questionnaires that were designed in such a manner that it takes just five minutes to complete the survey with 18 questions. RESULT The study showed that 82.41% of women had prior knowledge about menstruation before menarche and the primary source of information received was from the mothers in the case of 57.28% of the participants. 91.66% stated that they used disposable pads as their absorbents and 75.91% adopted incineration as a method of disposal of napkins. 82.16% suggested the installation of an incinerator in public toilets. CONCLUSION In a country where speaking about menstruation is still considered taboo and the purchase of sanitary pads is an awkward situation. A state like Kerala with a high literacy rate of 96.2 percent, states the use of cloths for hygiene, indicating that education on menstrual health and hygiene should be a pivotal instruction that should be received in the early stage of menstruation and women should be encouraged to follow all hygienic practices. The study also reveals the requirement for certain policies to be adopted, where the product under study is affordable to the common people for its use.
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