Exploring health status of adolescent girls in District Prayagraj with special reference to village Bani

Abstract

India has the largest cohort of adolescent population in the world, about 253 million, and every fifth person is between 10 to 19 years of age. Adolescents are often impacted by both malnutrition and under nutrition, mental illness, drug use and violence. Girls are especially the sufferers due to various societal factors. Menstruation generally disturbs the lives of girls in ways that are unimaginable and in India nearly 42% of girls use clothes rather than disposable sanitary napkins. The study is an attempt to assess the health and nutrition related problems faced by adolescent girls in the village. The present study tries to explore the menstrual practices being followed among adolescent girls and the problems faced by them. The respondents heavily lag behind in their knowledge about any aspect of menstruation. They are unaware about the process of menstruation, why is it important to females. The primary source of knowledge for girls about menstruation is their mothers. They preach the practices they know themselves. Therefore, lack of appropriate and right knowledge about menstruation is evident amongst all the ladies of the village. Dysmenorrhea is the most common problem prevalent among the respondents followed by body pain, headache, weakness, and anorexia. Weakness and anorexia are one of the indicators of anemia which is the most common ailment after puberty among girls worldwide.  The study suggests different ways through which the adolescent girl’s health may be improved.