title: Menstrual Pattern among Unmarried Women from Northern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menstruation disorders are also responsible for emotional, physical, behavioural and dietary practice changes. These changes affect their normal functioning and social life. The present study was carried out to find the prevalence of menstrual problems among unmarried girls of Chandigarh, India and to compare their knowledge and beliefs regarding menstruation in different sub-groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 744 unmarried females in Rural, Urban and Slum strata of UT Chandigarh, India. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire on menstruation. Chi-square value was used for testing statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the respondents was 16.84±3.05 years. Maximum respondents (40.9%) were educated up to 10th standard/High school. 448 (60.2%) were aware of menstruation before starting of menarche. Awareness was found to be significantly associated (p=0.02) with age. Socio-economic status and prior knowledge of respondents was also found to be significantly associated (p< 0.001). 61% (454) of the respondents had a regular flow during menses. Normal flow was reported by 70.2 %(522) of the respondents. Dysmenorrhea was found to be the most common problem suffered by 429 (57.7%) respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Menstrual hygiene is an issue that needs to be addressed at all levels. A variety of factors are known to affect menstrual behaviors, the most influential ones being economic status. It is essential to design a mechanism to address and for the access of healthy menstrual practices.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital , Sec 32, Chandigarh, India .
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.forename: Rambha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Sandeep Singh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sarpal
authors.forename: Sorab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Sumant
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
keywords: India; Knowledge; Menstruation; Women