Table 4.
Table showing general perceptions and views on menstrual practices among study participants
| Menstruation Practice (N = 1342) | Frequency (percentage) |
|---|---|
| First heard about menstruation from | |
| Mother | 887 (66.1) |
| Sister | 161 (12.0) |
| Aunt | 5 (0.4) |
| Grandmother | 83 (6.2) |
| Male family member | 2 (0.1) |
| Other family members | 23 (1.7) |
| Friends | 87 (6.5) |
| Teacher | 49 (3.7) |
| Books/ internet/ radio/ TV | 32 (2.4) |
| Others | 13 (0.9) |
| Who encourages the participant to practice menstrual restrictions | |
| Mother | 968 (72.1) |
| Sister | 56 (4.2) |
| Grandmother | 166 (12.4) |
| Aunt | 5 (0.4) |
| Husband/ male family members | 6 (0.4) |
| Mother-in-law | 13 (0.9) |
| Other family members | 52 (3.9) |
| Friends | 33 (2.5) |
| Teacher | 14 (1.0) |
| Other relatives | 29 (2.2) |
| Given the opportunity the participant would like to stop the following restrictions# | |
| Not entering the kitchen | 671 (50.0) |
| Not going to temple | 556 (41.4) |
| Purifying the house on 4th day of menstruation | 486 (36.2) |
| Not touching the plant | 386 (28.8) |
| Way the participant sees menstruation | |
| Blessing | 733 (54.6) |
| Bothering | 495 (36.9) |
| Curse | 114 (8.5) |
Notes: a = Not mutually exclusive, percentages will not add up to 100