DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2026.v12i07.008

Pages: 749-759

Background: Menstruation remains surrounded by social taboos and restrictions in many low- and middle-income countries, adversely affecting hygiene practices, dignity, and psychosocial wellbeing among adolescent girls. Evidence from Central India simultaneously assessing both menstrual hygiene practice and psychosocial impact using standardized tools remains limited. Objectives: To assess menstrual hygiene practices and psychosocial impact of menstruation among school-going adolescent girls aged 10–19 years in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and to identify sociodemographic and menstrual factors associated with poor practice and adverse psychosocial outcomes. Methods: A school-based, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 school-going adolescent girls selected from ten schools in Indore using stratified systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured, self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic factors, menstrual characteristics, menstrual hygiene practices (scored 0–10; Good ≥6), and psychosocial impact (12-item scale, scored 0–48). Associations were assessed using Chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results: The mean age of participants was 14.63 ± 2.44 years. The mean menstrual hygiene practice score was 7.89 ± 1.76 (out of 10), with 93.6% (n=396) demonstrating good practice. The mean psychosocial impact score was 27.19 ± 5.15 (out of 48), with 23.6% (n=100) classified as experiencing high psychosocial impact (score above the 75th percentile). School absenteeism and restriction of routine activities during menstruation were the two least well-practiced items (recommended practice present in 54.6% and 45.9%, respectively). On bivariate and multivariable analysis, no sociodemographic or menstrual factor was independently associated with either menstrual hygiene practice or psychosocial impact (all p>0.05). Conclusion: Menstrual hygiene practice was largely good in this urban