Menstrual hygiene practices and associated factors among Indian adolescent girls: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and practices by adolescent females of low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are a severe public health issue. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled proportion of the hygiene practices, menstrual problems with their associated factors, and the effectiveness of educational interventions on menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls in India. METHODS: PRISMA checklist and PICO guidelines were used to screen the scientific literature from 2011 to 2021. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of studies. Four themes were developed for data analysis, including hygiene practices, type of absorbent used, menstruation associated morbidities and interventions performed regarding menstruation. Eighty-four relevant studies were included and a meta-analysis, including subgroup analysis, was performed. RESULTS: Pooled data revealed a statistically significant increase in sanitary pad usage “(SMD = 48.83, 95% CI = 41.38–57.62, p < 0.00001)” and increased perineum practices during menstruation “(SMD = 55.77, 95% CI = 44.27–70.26, p < 0.00001)”. Results also reported that most prevalent disorders are dysmenorrhea “(SMD = 60.24, 95% CI = 50.41–70.06, p < 0.0001)”, Pre-menstrual symptoms “(SMD = 62.67, 95% CI = 46.83–78.50, p < 0.00001)”, Oligomenorrhea “(SMD = 23.57, CI = 18.05–29.10, p < 0.00001), Menorrhagia “(SMD = 25.67, CI = 3.86–47.47, p < 0.00001)”, PCOS “(SMD = 5.50, CI = 0.60–10.40, p < 0.00001)”, and Polymenorrhea “(SMD = 4.90, CI = 1.87–12.81, p < 0.0001)”. A statistically significant improvement in knowledge “(SMD = 2.06, 95% CI = 0.75–3.36, p < 0.00001)” and practice “(SMD = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.13–2.65, p < 0.00001)” on menstruation was observed. Infections of the reproductive system and their repercussions can be avoided with better awareness and safe menstruation practices. CONCLUSIONS: Learning about menstrual hygiene and health is essential for adolescent girls' health education to continue working and maintaining hygienic habits. Infections of the reproductive system and their repercussions can be avoided with better awareness and safe menstruation practices. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12978-022-01453-3.