Cultural and Social Practices Regarding Menstruation Among Adolescent Girls

Social Work in Public Health, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 594-604, 2011

12 Pages Posted: 26 Sep 2011 Last revised: 29 May 2012

See all articles by Anant Kumar

Anant Kumar

Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi

Kamiya Srivastava

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: September 20, 2011

Abstract

The study attempts to find out the existing social and cultural practices regarding menstruation, awareness levels, and the behavioral changes that come about in adolescent girls during menstruation, their perception about menarche, how do they treat it, and the various taboos, norms, and cultural practices associated with menarche. The study was conducted on 117 adolescent girls (age 11–20 years) and 41 mothers from various communities and classes in Ranchi comprising residential colonies and urban slums. The findings unfolds many practices: cultural and social restrictions associated with menstruation, myth, and misconception; the adaptability of the adolescent girls toward it; their reaction, reaction of the family; realization of the importance of menstruation; and the changes that have come in their life after menarche and their resistance to such changes. The article also suggests the strategies to improve menstrual health and hygiene among adolescent girls. The study concludes that cultural and social practices regarding menstruation depend on girls' education, attitude, family environment, culture, and belief.

Keywords: Adolescent, health, menarche, menstruation, myth, social & cultural practices, taboo

Suggested Citation

Kumar, Anant and Srivastava, Kamiya, Cultural and Social Practices Regarding Menstruation Among Adolescent Girls (September 20, 2011). Social Work in Public Health, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 594-604, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1933364

Anant Kumar (Contact Author)

Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi ( email )

Dr. Camil Bulcke Path
Purulia Road
Ranchi, Jharkhand 834001
India
09934160637 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://xiss.ac.in

Kamiya Srivastava

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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