Introduction: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) involves using clean materials to absorb menstrual blood, changing them in privacy, washing the body with soap and water, and having safe disposal options. According to the World Bank, over 500 million women lack adequate resources for hygienic menstrual management. This study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge and practices of MHM among school-going adolescent girls in urban and rural Puducherry. Materials and methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 784 adolescent girls aged 10–19 years using multistage sampling. Data was collected using a semi-structured, pre-validated questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 29. Results: Most participants (56%) were aged 13–15 years. Significant socio-demographic differences were noted between urban and rural groups in terms of religion, parental education, occupation, and socio-economic status. Rural girls showed better MHM knowledge (66.1%) compared to urban girls (49.7%), which was statistically significant. Similarly, 53.8% of rural girls practiced good hygiene, compared to 44.9% in urban areas, also a significant difference. Discussion: The study highlights the need for targeted interventions, especially in urban settings, to improve MHM awareness and practices. The findings aim to support policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals in ensuring safe and dignified menstrual management for all adolescent girls.
Saranyaa et al. (Sat,) studied this question.