ArticlePloS one2019
Menstrual health communication among Indian adolescents: A mixed-methods study.
Article in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed.
- Global Trends in Adolescent Health Inequalities and Their Social Determinants: A Bibliometric and Scoping Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Mapping the health outcomes of menstrual inequity: a comprehensive scoping review.Reproductive health · 2025Article
- Effects of a participatory learning and action programme in women's groups on adolescent girls: a cluster-randomized controlled trial in Bihar, India.SSM - population health · 2025Article
- Menstruation and masculinity: Exploring the relationship between boys and menstruation.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2024Article
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- A study of association between early menarche and anxiety in undergraduate students.F1000Research · 2024Observational
- A Qualitative Content Analysis of Rural and Urban School Students' Menstruation-Related Questions in Bangladesh.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- The prevalence of menstrual disorders and premenstrual syndrome among adolescent girls living in North Borneo, Malaysia: a questionnaire-based study.BMC women's health · 2022Article
- Menstrual management among adolescent girls in Uttar Pradesh, India: An examination of interpersonal and mediated communication as delivery mechanisms for practical guidance.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2022Article
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2 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundResearch in health communication frequently views it as an information dissemination strategy, thus neglecting the intricacies involved in communicating a sensitive topic such as menstruation. The social patterning in menstrual communication, a taboo in India, and its consequent health-effects on adolescents are under-studied.
methodsWe studied the social determinants of menstrual communication influencing menstrual- health through semi-structured interviews of 21 boys and girls each, 12 key-respondent interviews, followed by a cross-sectional survey of 1421 adolescents from Nashik district, India. We thematically analysed the qualitative data and fit multivariable logistic regression to model risk ratios.
findingsWe found social disparities in adolescents' experiences of communication taboo regarding menstruation. While boys curbed their curiosity about the topic, girls too faced resistance to their experience-sharing and treatment-seeking for menstrual illnesses. The inequality in menstruation-related communication was evident as more boys than girls faced avoidance to their questions [IRR at 95%CI: 2.75 (2.04, 3.71)]], and fewer tribal than rural girls were communicated severe taboos (OR at 95% CI: 0.18 (0.09, 0.36))]. Girls who had been communicated severe (versus no/mild) taboos reported greater stress about menstrual staining (IRR at 95% CI: 1.31 (1.10, 1.57)], emphasizing the health consequences of such communication inequalities.
conclusionsOur study highlights the need to address gender and setting-specific communication experiences of adolescents in India, a patriarchal society. The inequality in communication needs attention as it creates unequal patterns in Indian adolescents' menstrual health and experiences, which may manifest as inequities in reproductive health-related outcomes even in their adult-lives.
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