This study examined the relationship between menstrual hygiene practices, socio-demographic factors, and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among 965 married women ages 15-49 living in slum settlements near Dehradun, India. The researchers found significant associations between menstrual hygiene practices (such as cloth use during menstruation) and women's literacy, religion, socioeconomic status, and experiences of RTI symptoms. Poor menstrual hygiene was found to be a key determinant of these women's reproductive health needs and risk of RTIs, with their practices influenced by various socio-demographic attributes.

1. 1Socio-demographic predictors of Menstrual Hygiene Practices as key determinant of RTI among ever-married ‘in-migrant’ women of DehradunAuthors: Singh Sadhna,Kandpal SD,Roy D

2. 2Background:Considering huge burden of RTI across community based study settings, menstrual hygiene practices by reproductive age group women have documented evidence of being a key determinant of RTI and bearing causal association with Socio-demographic attributes.

3. 3Objectives:1. Study menstrual hygiene practices of ever-married ‘in-migrant’ women from Dehradun as a key determinant of RH needs. 2. Establish causal association between menstrual hygiene practices and (i) key socio-demographic attributes (ii) RTI

4. 4Material & Method:An observational (cross-sectional) study was designed with a probability sample of 965 ever-married women of 15-49 yrs from 06 ‘make-shift settlements’/slums along immediate precincts i.e 50 meters into the mainland from the banks of rivers- all in the district of Dehradun.

5. Distribution of study population by use of cloth during menses

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7. Distribution of study subjects according to menstrual hygiene practices and literacy

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9. Distribution of Study Subjects according to Menstrual Hygiene Practice and Religion

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11. Distribution of study subjects according to menstrual hygiene practice and SES

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13. 13Menstrual Hygiene Practice and RTI/STI- Distribution of study subjects according to menstrual hygiene and RTI/STI

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15. 15Results:The present study findings revealed that as a key determinant of RH needs, menstrual hygiene practices of the study population bore significant statistical association with their Socio demographic attributes & key RTI symptoms.