Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Menstrual Hygiene and Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine among Adolescent Girls in Selected Higher Secondary School in Kannur District

Adolescence is the bridge between unique and adulthood. Menstruation is the unique phenomena occur in the adulthood. Lack of menstrual hygiene leads to reproductive tract infections. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death among women in India. 99% cervical cancers are caused by human papilloma virus. Human papilloma virus vaccine can prevent most common type of infection. To be most effective, they should be used before an infection occurs and are therefore recommended between the age of 9 and 13. The study is undertaken to asses the knowledge and attitude regarding menstrual hygiene and Human papilloma virus vaccine among adolescent girls in selected higher secondary school in Kannur district. A descriptive survey design was used. The participants were 100 higher secondary students studying in Parassinikadavu Higher Secondary School was recruited. Data collected and analysed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The major findings of 100 participants include, the majority of them belongs to the age group of 15 – 16 (84%) yrs. Most of them are Hindus (87%), 73% were studying in plus one and are non- vegetarian. 83% of them attained menarche at the age of 13-15 years. 75% of them belongs to nuclear family among 100 adolescent girls, The Mean percentage of the knowledge on menstrual hygiene is 77.2% and mean percentage of attitude on menstrual hygiene 88.8%. The mean percentage of knowledge and attitude on Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine is 50% and 78% respectively. 81% have good knowledge, 15% have average and 4% have excellent knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene and 67%, 27% & 6% have average, poor and good knowledge regarding HPV Vaccine respectively. 77% have excellent and 23% have good attitude on menstrual hygiene where as 70% have good, 24% have excellent and 6% have average attitude regarding HPV Vaccine. The study shows that there is no significant association between Knowledge and attitude regarding menstrual hygiene & HPV Vaccine with selected demographic variable. There is a positive correlation exist among knowledge & attitude regarding menstrual hygiene and HPV vaccine.