42% schoolgirls unaware of menstruation

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27

Despite a chapter on reproduction in the Class VIII and X science curriculum, menstruation is apparently a taboo subject as girl students of government schools were caught unawares.

Only 15.44 per cent girls were acquainted with the process of menstruation, while 42.43 per cent were totally unaware about the subject in 10 government schools, which were surveyed across the city. The survey was carried under MAHA (Menstrual and Adolescent Health Awareness) programme by Chandigarh-based NGO Sanjh Jogri. Under this campaign, 615 girls from Class VIII to Class XII were interviewed.

About 53.98 per cent girls did not know about the female reproductive system whereas 72.36 per cent girls said they did not know about the male reproductive system. Around 50.89 per cent of girls did not know what premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is.

Iqbal Judge, who is running a campaign for boys and girls of government schools in Chandigarh, had taken permission for the campaign from Director, School Education, Rubinderjit Brar, who allotted her eight schools in May last year.

In March 2018, the NGO finished the survey after which, 10 more schools were allotted to it.

Dr Iqbal shares: “Cultural taboos and societal conditioning have imposed a restrictive silence on this developmental milestone in young people’s lives; consequently their numerous questions, doubts and anxieties are generally left unanswered by their caregivers — parents, guardians and teachers — often leading to problems and misinformation from dubious sources.”

She added: “Aggravating the problem is the silence of parents and elders in talking about these changes, yet enforcing a plethora of injunctions and taboos, largely based on superstition or orthodox and discriminatory cultural practices.”

About the survey

Understanding the sensitivity of the issue, MAHA addresses school students from Class VIII onwards and answers crucial questions on body literacy and growing up. The programme consists of four to five hourly sessions with both females and males. The initiative focuses on both pre and post-intervention strategies. A survey is conducted with questions regarding the topics that will be covered in the following sessions. It provides an important source of understanding the audience: their attitudes and knowledge regarding the discussions to be held. The post-intervention provides insight on to the proceeding of the sessions.

Schools surveyed 

1. Govt. Model School, Sector 15
2. Govt Model,  Sector 20
3. Govt Model, Sector 8
4. Govt Girls School, Sector 20
5. Govt High School, Dhanas
6. SEWA, Saketri ( 3 groups)
7. Govt Co-ed School, Mani Majra 
8. Govt Co-ed School, Modern Housing Complex
9. Govt School, Sector 21  
10. Govt School, Sector 22