A Study on Reproductive Health Awareness, Hygiene Practices, and Healthcare Autonomy Among Young Women in Deoghar District, Jharkhand

Abstract

Background: Reproductive health knowledge is crucial for the well-being of young women transitioning into adulthood. College-going girls represent an important population for assessing awareness of reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, infertility, and health-related autonomy.

Objectives: To assess knowledge regarding reproductive health, personal hygiene, infertilityrelated factors and treatment among college-going girls in Deoghar District, Jharkhand, India, and to examine the association between demographic characteristics and knowledge of reproductive health and autonomy.

Materials and Methods: A mixed-method, comparative descriptive design was adopted among 154 college-going girls aged 17–28 years in Deoghar District. Data on demographic characteristics, reproductive health and hygiene awareness, infertility-related knowledge, and autonomy in healthcare decision-making were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings, while chi-square tests assessed associations between selected variables, with statistical significance set at p< 0.05.

Results: Of the 154 participants, 53.89% were aged 20–22 years, 72.07% resided in rural areas, and 94.15% were Hindu. Most participants (82.46%) were unmarried, and 74.67% belonged to middle-income families. About 74.02% experienced menarche at 12–15 years, while 69.48% used disposable sanitary pads. Notably, 46.10% reported PCOS, endometriosis, or hirsutism. Parents were the primary decision-makers regarding healthcare and personal hygiene for 57.79% of participants. Overall, 45.40% demonstrated good knowledge of infertility-related factors, while 60% perceived stigma associated with discussing or seeking infertility care. Significant associations (p< 0.05) were observed for selected demographic and knowledge variables.

Conclusion: The findings highlight important gaps and social barriers in reproductive health and infertility awareness. Targeted educational and awareness programmes are needed to strengthen reproductive health knowledge, menstrual hygiene practices, infertility awareness, and autonomy among college-going girls.