Abstract

Background: Menstruation is a normal physiological process but people have many misconceptions.

Objectives: To identify various myths and misconceptions about menstruation and ascertain if there is a difference between illiterates and literates.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among the villagers under the catchment area of Community Medicine Department of A. V. Medical College, Pondicherry. Total 339 consecutive households were included and one adult respondent from each household was interviewed using a pre-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS software. Proportions and Chi square test were used.

Results: Nearly two third of the respondents (65.4% illiterates as well as 62.1% literates) believed that menstruating blood is dirty. Regarding myths, “Placing broom stick, neem leaves & footwear around the girl prevents intrusion of evil spirits” and “woman after menstruation must have a purifying bath”; there was very significant (p < 0.01) difference between literates and illiterates. When it was asked whether any activity of daily life (e.g. entry to kitchen, temple, sleeping on bed etc.) should be prohibited, most of the respondents (illiterates 97.8% and literates 90.2%) said “yes”. Almost all (100%) who said “yes”, believe that women should not enter a temple during menstruation.

Conclusion: Most of the people lack awareness; they still believe in old sayings. Literates are also having myths indicating that there is a strong need for creating awareness among literates also. Females had more misconceptions as compared to males.

Key words: Behavior; attitudes; practice; awareness; literacy.