Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about menarche of adolescent girls in Anand district, Gujarat.
A questionnaire survey of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards menstruation was made in 22 schools in Anand district, Gujarat state. Of 900 schoolgirls aged 11-17 years, only 38.5% felt comfortable about menarche and only 31.0% believed that menstruation was a normal physiological process. Many (37.2%) had not been informed about menarche before its onset and 48.2% felt they were not mentally prepared. The major sources of information were the mother (60.7%) or an elder sister (15.8%); teachers and others relatives played a small role. In this area of India, many families continue the custom of celebrating the first menarche and observing social restrictions.
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Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Municipal Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. tiwarihemant1@rediffmail.com
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D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D002648:Child; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology; D005239:Fear; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008402:Mass Media; D008572:Menarche / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000502:physiology; D009341:Negativism; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012736:Sex Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D012752:Shame; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013609:Taboo / Q000523:psychology