Table 2 Knowledge and attitude pertaining to puberty and menstrual health in intervention and control group at baseline and 3Â months endline
Characteristics | Response | Baseline | Three months endline | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Intervention | Control | P value | Intervention | Control | P value | ||
N = 469, n (%) | N = 321, n (%) | N = 387, n (%) | N = 304, n (%) | ||||
Puberty | |||||||
 Physical bodily changes occurring due to puberty: do you take it as normal | Yes | 282 (60.1) | 171 (53.3) | 0.089 | 367 (94.8) | 188 (62.0) | < 0.01 |
No | 85 (18.1) | 77 (24.0) | 12 (3.1) | 60 (19.8) | |||
Don't know | 102 (21.7) | 73 (22.7) | 8 (2.1) | 55 (18.2) | |||
 Do pubertal changes vary between individuals | Yes | 154 (32.8) | 106 (33.0) | 0.016 | 342 (88.4) | 145 (47.9) | < 0.01 |
No | 44 (9.4) | 51 (15.9) | 18 (4.7) | 44 (14.5) | |||
Don't know | 271 (57.8) | 164 (51.1) | 27 (7.0) | 114 (37.6) | |||
 Do you feel comfortable when puberty-related topics are discussed in class? | Yes | 282 (60.1) | 198 (61.7) | 0.66 | 352 (91.0) | 155 (51.0) | < 0.01 |
No | 187 (39.9) | 123 (38.3) | 352 (91.0) | 155 (51.0) | |||
Menstrual health | |||||||
 Is menstruation a good thing | True | 297 (63.3) | 215 (67.0) | 0.293 | 362 (93.5) | 219 (72.0) | < 0.01 |
False | 78 (9.9) | 34 (10.6) | 14 (3.6) | 25 (8.2) | |||
Can't say | 200 (25.3) | 72 (22.4) | 11 (2.8) | 60 (19.7) | |||
 Females who have attained menarche/have menses can become pregnant | True | 280 (59.7) | 208 (64.8) | 0.148 | 351 (90.7) | 252 (82.9) | < 0.01 |
False | 27 (5.8) | 12 (3.7) | 11 (2.8) | 7 (2.3) | |||
Can't say | 162 (34.5) | 101 (31.5) | 25 (6.5) | 45 (14.8) | |||
 Excessive bleeding during menstruation leads to anemia | True | 179 (38.2) | 142 (44.2) | 0.158 | 335 (86.8) | 219 (72.0) | < 0.01 |
False | 89 (19.0) | 62 (19.3) | 31 (8.0) | 26 (8.6) | |||
Can't say | 201 (42.9) | 117 (36.4) | 20 (5.2) | 59 (19.4) | |||
 Activities during menstruation need to be restricted | True | 239 (51.1) | 194 (60.4) | 0.032 | 87 (22.5) | 100 (32.9) | < 0.01 |
False | 85 (18.2) | 50 (15.6) | 286 (74.1) | 55 (18.1) | |||
Can't say | 144 (30.8) | 77 (24.0) | 13 (3.4) | 149 (49.0) | |||
 Diet during menstruation needs to be restricted | True | 218 (46.6) | 153 (47.7) | 0.166 | 80 (20.7) | 141 (46.4) | < 0.01 |
False | 121 (25.9) | 97 (30.2) | 297 (76.7) | 98 (32.2) | |||
Can't say | 129 (27.6) | 71 (21.1) | 10 (2.6) | 137 (45.1) | |||
 Do you attend school during periods? | Yes | 402 (85.9) | 259 (80.7) | 0.051 | 366 (94.6) | 271 (89.1) | 0.008 |
No | 66 (14.1) | 62 (19.3) | 21 (5.4) | 33 (10.9) | |||
 Girls should be taught about menstrual hygiene in schools | Yes | 452 (96.6) | 313 (97.5) | 0.457 | 384 (99.25) | 296 (97.4) | 0.067 |
No | 16 (3.4) | 8 (2.5) | 3 (0.8) | 8 (2.6) | |||
 Which absorbent do you use during menstruation? | Sanitary Pad | 456 (97.2) | 316 (98.4) | 0.741 | 385 (99.0) | 295 (97.0) | < 0.01 |
Cloth | 2 (0.4) | 1 (0.3) | 2 (0.5) | 2 (0.7) | |||
Others | 11 (0.9) | 4 (0.6) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.7) | |||
 How many times do you change your pad or cloth? | Once a day | 30 (6.4) | 18 (5.6) | 0.041 | 8 (2.1) | 15 (4.9) | < 0.01 |
2–3 times a day | 241 (51.4) | 194 (60.4) | 197 (50.9) | 186 (61.2) | |||
More than three times a day | 198 (42.2) | 109 (34.0) | 182 (47.0) | 103 (33.9) | |||
No | 172 (36.75) | 54 (16.8) | 16 (4.1) | 25 (8.2) | |||
 Do you wash your hands with soap after changing your sanitary napkin? | Yes | 458 (97.7) | 316 (98.4) | 0.44 | 382 (98.7) | 296 (97.4) | 0.198 |
No | 11 (2.3) | 5 (1.6) | 5 (1.3) | 8 (2.6) | |||