Assessing Knowledge and Attitude towards Family Planning Among Postnatal Mothers at Community Level in Nuapada District, Odisha

Abstract

Background: Menstrual health is a critical component of adolescent health and well-being. Limited knowledge, misconceptions, and sociocultural restrictions may negatively influence adolescents’ understanding and management of menstruation. Adolescent-centred health education may help address these gaps and strengthen menstrual health literacy.

Methods: A quantitative pre-experimental, one-group pre-test–post-test design was conducted among 30 adolescents selected through purposive sampling from selected residential colleges in Chhattisgarh. Menstrual hygiene knowledge was assessed using a self-structured questionnaire. Participants received a structured adolescent-centred menstrual health education intervention, followed by a post-test assessment. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a paired t-test.

Results: Before the intervention, 18 participants (60.0%) had inadequate knowledge and 12 (40.0%) had average knowledge, with none demonstrating adequate knowledge. Following the intervention, 23 participants (76.7%) achieved an adequate level of knowledge and 7 (23.3%) had average knowledge; none remained in the inadequate category. The reported paired t-value was 5.83, which exceeded the critical value of 2.045 at the 5% level of significance, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in menstrual hygiene knowledge following the intervention.

Conclusion: The adolescent-centred menstrual health education intervention demonstrated a significant improvement in menstrual hygiene knowledge among adolescents. Incorporating structured, adolescent-responsive menstrual health education into residential college and adolescent health programmes may help address knowledge gaps and promote informed menstrual health and hygiene practices.