International Journal of Multidisciplinary Health Sciences and Research

Category: Original Article,      DOI: Recived: 16/10/2025, Accepted: 26/12/2025, Published online: 30/12/2025

Effectiveness of Structured Health Education Intervention on Menstrual Hygiene Practices and Related Knowledge among School-Based Adolescent Girls: A Six-Month Quasi-Experimental Study

Singh Nitin1 , Kumar Hitesh2 , Singh Namrata3*

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In many countries, insufficient menstrual health awareness and poor hygiene practices among adolescent girls continue to be major public health issues. The study assessed the impact of a planned health education intervention on the menstrual hygiene practices, knowledge, and attitudes of school girls.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, non-randomized comparative study was performed over a period of six months (March to August 2024) and involved a total of 120 girls (intervention n=60, control n=60) aged 12-18 years. The intervention consisted of 5 interactive educational sessions on menstrual anatomy and physiology, hygiene practices, menstrual disorders, and myth-busting. The researchers collected data at three time points: baseline, 3 months (post-intervention), and 6 months (follow-up). A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to evaluate knowledge (15 items), practices (12 items), and attitudes (8 items). For statistical analysis, repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-tests were used.

Results: Notable indicators, as represented by the knowledge scores of the intervention group, have shown 6.8±2.4 (baseline) to 11.8±2.0 (follow-up), which signifies a 73.5% growth (p<0.001, Cohen's d=1.98). Menstrual hygiene practices recorded a mean score of 5.9±2.1 at baseline, which increased to 9.4±2.2 at follow-up, indicating a 59.3% improvement and requiring less than a 3% decline (p<0.001, d=1.21). Furthermore, the score for the reported attitudes increased from 18.4±3.2 to 24.8±3.0, indicating a 34.8% increase (p<0.001, d=1.78). The control group, on the other hand, showed negligible variation across all three domains. Among the specific practices, the percentage of women who used the right product increased by 46.7% to 93.3%, proper perineal hygiene increased from 23.3% to 80%, and correct product disposal increased from 33.3% to 90%. Gains were sustained at the six-month follow-up with less than 3% decline.

Conclusion: The structured health education interventions helped menstrual health knowledge, practices, and attitudes improve significantly, with the behavioral changes being sustained. The introduction of comprehensive menstrual health education into school curricula is a cost-effective public health strategy.