Menstrual hygiene practices and their determinants among pre-menopausal married women in rural Puducherry

BACKGROUND: Menstrual hygiene practices are somewhat poor among pre-menstrual aged rural women, and thereby, they are likely to be affected by menstrual and gynaecological morbidities. Hence, an attempt is made to comprehend the magnitude of menstrual hygiene practices through an index among rural women and identify its principal determinants. METHODS: Adopting a community-based cross-sectional study design, the required data was collected (through a semi-structured interview schedule) from 780 married pre-menopausal women (aged 35–49 years) from 30 villages of the Puducherry district during January–April 2021. Descriptive and inferential statistics and multiple linear regression techniques were employed. RESULTS: 56% of the present study respondents have exhibited good menstrual hygienic practices (pooled scores 9–15; Median score = 9). Findings from the multiple linear regression model revealed that women’s education (β = 0.235; P < 0.001), occupational hierarchy (β = 0.110; P < 0.001) and mass media exposure (β = 0.095; P < 0.01) as the critical predictors of menstrual hygiene practices. Such positive net effects were also exhibited by the family monthly income (β = 0.84; P < 0.05) and women’s access to economic resources (β = 0.071; P < 0.05), whereas family size demonstrated a significant adverse effect (β = –0.080; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, menstrual hygiene practices among women are moderately high among better socio-economic status. Efforts may be taken to improve the socio-economic conditions and propagate the correct menstrual hygienic practices among rural women, which may enhance hygiene practices during menstruation.