Knowledge and attitude among adolescent boys of age group 13-17 years regarding menstruation in urban Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh: A study of Central India

Abstract

Background and Aims: In India, menstruation is considered a “women’s” problem because the majority of studies on the subject only include girls and women. This discussion excludes adolescent boys, which obscures the fact that menstruation is a social epidemiological phenomenon with persistent gender differences. To encourage boys to contribute significantly to women’s health, study on their menstrual knowledge, attitudes, and experiences, including socioeconomic aspects, must be conducted. This must be addressed if gender inequalities in adolescent health are to be reduced. Hence the current study is undertaken to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of school-aged adolescent boys in urban Jabalpur toward menstruation, taking into account factors like as family structure, societal behaviours, and cultural influences. Methods: Cross-sectional research of 100 males aged 13 to 17 years from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, was carried out using the multistage random sample approach. Results: Menstruation was met with a mixture of wonder and embarrassment. Many people were uninformed and lacked proper understanding. Out of 100 males, 48% had good knowledge and 27% had a good attitude toward menstruation. The majority of the children got their information from schools (45%) followed by their parents or their peer group (39%). Most schools do not provide adequate sex education. Boys who have sisters or female acquaintances have more awareness and a positive attitude toward menstruation. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the importance of considering not only individual factors but also social dy¬namics when analysing knowledge, attitudes, and personal group scores. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing individuals within a social context for improving Indian boys’ understanding and beliefs about menstruation and their menstruation-related experiences.

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