Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 64(2), September - October 2020; Article No. 08, Pages: 49-53 ISSN 0976 – 044X International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research Available online at www.globalresearchonline.net ©Copyright protected. Unauthorised republication, reproduction, distribution, dissemination and copying of this document in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. 49 Bhavana Inuganti, Peddolla Sushma Reddy, Vidya Biju* Department of Pharmacy Practice, MNR College of Pharmacy, Sangareddy, Telangana, India, 502294. *Corresponding author’s E-mail: vidyabbiju@gmail.com Received: 15-06-2020; Revised: 21-09-2020; Accepted: 30-09-2020; Published on: 20-10-2020. ABSTRACT Menstruation is a natural and physiological process. It’s a sign that a woman is healthy. It is very important to follow proper menstrual hygienic practices. Lack of knowledge among women end up with repeated use of unclean menstrual absorbent results in harboring of microorganisms that increases susceptibility to urinary, perineal, vaginal and pelvic infections. Objective of this study is to study the effect of health education on menstrual hygiene among rural women. An interventional study was done by obtaining the baseline data relating to socio-demographic and economic factors, menstrual hygiene practices and symptoms suggestive of RTIs. The subjects were given awareness regarding the physiology of menstruation and menstrual hygiene. The follow up data was collected after a span of 3 months. Awareness about sanitary napkins was given to the subjects. In the baseline data only 38.8% of them were aware whereas 61.2% were unaware, but after the follow up study was done awareness on sanitary napkins among women increased to 100%. Sanitary napkins were used by 16.7% of the subjects in the baseline study which was increased to 24.3% after the follow up. Frequency of changing the absorbent was significantly higher after the follow up 69.8% than the baseline study 58%. Burning was the disposal practice followed by 37% during the baseline study which was increased up to 56.2% after the follow up. Previously only 18.5% of the women practiced drying of homemade reusable cloth in sunlight and after the follow up was done, 25.6% of them started practicing drying of homemade reusable cloth in sunlight. Our study divulges that it is possible to implement a health education programme about menstrual hygiene in rural areas. Proper menstrual hygiene and correct perceptions can protect the women from reproductive health issues. They should be aware about its effect on their forth-coming reproductive health. Keywords: Menstruation, menstrual hygiene practices, infections, reproductive health. QUICK RESPONSE CODE → DOI: 10.47583/ijpsrr.2020.v64i02.008 DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.47583/ijpsrr.2020.v64i02.008 INTRODUCTION enstruation is defined as periodic discharge of blood from the uterus occurring more or less at regular monthly intervals throughout the active reproductive life of a female. 1 The onset of menstruation is called as “Menarche” and it is the hallmark of female pubertal development and is considered as unclean in India. 2 A women is likely to spend more than 1800 days of her life menstruating. In other words, it is approximately 5 years of her life span spent on bleeding. 3 As a method of practice to avoid blood stain from becoming evident, women use sanitary pad, locally prepared pad/napkin or more often clothes during the time of menstruation. 3 Often methods of management can be unhygienic and inconvenient, particularly in poor settings. In India, between 43% and 88% of girls wash and reuse cotton clothes rather than use disposable pads. 4 It is surprising to note that around 1% of women in India do not use anything at all during the time of menstruation. 3 Genital hygiene is the major component of women’s health and is very important for the protection of reproductive health. Women’s care and treatment of their vagina and genital area might affect their vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections (STIs, including HIV) and other sexual and reproductive morbidities. 5 The strength and consistency of this association, however, are debated as cohort studies have shown conflicting results. 5 Traditional beliefs during menstruation and hesitation of not discussing the related issues openly has blocked the access to get the right kind of information regarding menstrual hygiene. 2 Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is characterized by practices such as the type of absorbent material used, frequency changed, associated body washing, methods of washing, drying and storing reusable pads as well as other contextual factors such as location of menstruation- related changing and washing practices. 6 Because of lack of knowledge women end up with repeated use of unclean menstrual absorbent results in harboring of microorganisms that increases susceptibility to urinary, perineal, vaginal and pelvic infections. 2 Reproductive tract infection (RTI) is defined as the infection of the reproductive (or) genital tract which causes healthy life loss among sexually active women of reproductive age in developing countries. The presence of RTIs (especially ulcer causing STIs) can promote the Impact of Menstrual Health Education: A Community Based Interventional Analytical Study among Rural Women of Eastern Telangana M Research Article