It is a field based cross-sectional study conducted in AWCs of Urban slums in the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur from April 2015 to October 2016.

Total seven AWCs are present in the slum. All the unmarried adolescent girls enlisted in the AWCs and their AWWs were the study participants.

All the unmarried adolescent girls enrolled in the seven AWCs who gave their consent to participate were included in the study.

Those girls who did not attend the AWCs and also could not be contacted at home with prior information were excluded from the study.

Data was collected using a self structured questionnaire devised by using inputs from various literatures. Questionnaire had various sections like socio-demographic data, reproductive health, menstrual health and services availed under RMNCH+A. Before data collection, validity and reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by pretesting. This was done among 15 girls belonging to another nearby slum (which was not the study area). After making necessary modifications the questionnaire was used to collect data from the adolescent girls by interview method. In-depth interview of AWWs was conducted to collect data on their knowledge and practice on adolescent health services.

After obtaining approval from Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC), permission was availed from the Child Development Programme Officer (CDPO) of ICDS office, Berhampur for conducting the study in the AWCs. As schools remained closed on the second Saturday of every month, both school going and non school going girls were contacted for data collection on these days in the AWCs. All the beneficiaries were intimated a week prior to interview to remain present at the interview session. After obtaining written consent, willing respondents were interviewed. The participants who did not attend AWC were interviewed by a house visit. Simultaneously, an in-depth interview of the respective AWWs was done.

Modified Kuppuswamy classification 2014 was used for calculation of Socio-Economic Status (SES) [12]:

Menstrual hygiene was not considered to be adequate if any one of the following was present:

Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, out of 212 girls a total of 142 adolescent girls were available for the interview. So the response rate was 67%. Mean age of participants was 13.68±2.78 years. Majority (n=95, 66.9%) girls were in the age range of (10-14) years [Table/Fig-1].

Among them (n=104, 73.2%), (n=20, 14.1%) and (n=18, 12.7%) girls belonged to nuclear, three generation and joint families respectively. All females preached Hinduism.

Majority (n=94, 66.2%) belonged to upper lower class. Considering the educational status of the study participants, (n=125, 88%) were continuing their studies but (n=15, 10.6%) were school dropouts, rest (n=2, 1.4%) had never gone to school. Most of the girls i.e., (n=57, 40.1%) had studied upto high school level [Table/Fig-2].

[Table/Fig-3] reveals that the knowledge of beneficiaries on services provided under RMNCH+A. All knew about distribution of IFA tablets whereas (n=110, 77.4%) knew about deworming tablets. Media was the source of awareness regarding use of sanitary napkins. Regarding SRH, HIV/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and contraceptives (n=36, 25.4%), (n=43, 30.3%) and (n=25, 17.6%) girls were aware respectively. Media was the source of information for (n=25, 69.4%), (n=26, 60.4%) and (n=25,100%) study participants in above three domains respectively. None of them received any information from the AWWs. Also, they were not provided with preventive health check-ups.

In spite of their knowledge on distribution of tablets, (n=95, 66.9%) were taking IFA and (n=84, 59.2%) were taking deworming tablets respectively. Significantly a higher number of school going girls were consuming IFA tablets. No association was found among IFA consumption and type of family or SES of the study participants. Tablets were not received by (n=16, 34%) girls whereas (n=31, 66%) feared side effects like bad taste and blackish stool. Because of irregular supply of deworming tablets many did not receive the tablets though they knew about it [Table/Fig-4].

Out of total 142 girls, (n=30, 21.1%) were suffering from RTI. Abnormal vaginal discharge, itches/sores, burning micturition, increased frequency of micturition, pain in supra-pubic area were complained by (n=16, 53.3%), (n=4,13.3%), (n=20,66.6%), (n=9, 30%), (n=3,10%) girls respectively [Table/Fig-5]. But, none of them went to the AWCs for treatment or consultation.

Out of 71 girls who had attained menarche though all knew about sanitary napkins; However, they were exclusively used by (n=31, 43.7%) girls. Only clothes were used by (n=28, 39.4%) girls. Rest (n=12, 16.9%) used both.

Menstrual hygiene was adequate for (n=49, 69%) of the girls. Adequacy of menstrual hygiene was significantly higher among school going girls (χ²=9.703, p=0.046) [Table/Fig-6].

Chi-square test, p-value significant when p≤0.05 at 95% confidence interval [Table/Fig-7] illustrates information gathered from interview of all seven AWWs present in the area. All knew about the RMNCH+A programme and its adolescent components. They were aware of distribution of IFA and deworming tablets to the adolescents. All of them received adequate supply of IFA but not deworming tablets. Neither there was any knowledge nor supply of Free Days sanitary napkins among the girls. No health education was given to the beneficiaries. They knew how to update records of the stock supplied and all their records were updated. They attended Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) sessions. According to the AWWs, monitoring of their activities was not done regularly as per the schedule. Inspite of adequate stock of IFA tablets, many girls did not consume because of fear of side effects.

The present study was conducted In an urban slum of Berhampur. A total of 142 adolescent girls were interviewed with a mean age of (13.68±2.78) years. Of them (n=95, 66.9%) were in the age range of (10-14) years. The findings were slightly higher as compared to study by Bhattacharya H et al., in Dibrugarh [10] and Kollur LR et al., in Maharashtra [11] where 54.57% and 55% belonged to early adolescence (10-14 years) respectively.

All of them were Hindus and the majority i.e., (n=104, 73.2%) belonged to nuclear families. The findings were consistent with that of Barman P et al., where, majority of the girls were Hindus (67.7%) and belonged to nuclear family(74.3%) [12] Kollur LR et al., in their study performed in Maharashtra in year 2014 found that majority of girls followed Hinduism (60%) and belonged to nuclear family (81%) [11].

In this study most of the girls i.e., 94(66.2 %) belonged to upper lower class. Findings were similar to that of Barman P et al., where girls mostly belonged to SES IV (53%) [12]. On the contrary, Bandkhadke GM et al., in their study found that most of the girls belonged to low SES [13].

Considering the educational status of the study participants, (n=15, 10.6%) were school dropouts and (n=2, 1.4%) had gone to school. On enquiry of their schooling, (n=57, 40.1%) had studied upto high school level. In study by Baliga SS et al., 98.5% were literate, and 90% were currently enrolled in a school. Dropout rate was consistent with that of the present study [14]. Shah SP et al., in the year 2013 reported (n=153,93%) girls had at least primary level formal education, (n=55,33.5%) were school-going which was much less than the present study [15].

Media was their source of awareness regarding sanitary napkins and contraceptives. Information about SRH and HIV was obtained by (n=25, 69.4%) and (n=26, 60.4%) girls from media respectively. None of them received information from the AWWs. Kotecha PV, et al., in Vadodara reported that most of the girls obtained information on SRH from schoolbooks, television, teachers, friends and parents. Knowledge about contraception, HIV/AIDS and its modes of transmission was known to 25%, 66% and 50% of the girls respectively [16]. Singh A and Jain S, found that, knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS, RTI and contraception was present among 60%, 31.8%, 29.6% girls respectively which was higher than that of present study [17]. This may be due to higher literacy and more exposure to media. As per Nema A and Sharma KKN, in Jabalpur in 2007, post-marital sex, conception and pregnancy, RTI/STI, unsafe period of pregnancy, partiurition was known to 74%, 66%, 15.2%, 44%, 12.8% of girls respectively. Electronic media was the most powerful source of information [18]. In the present study, teachers and parents played very less important role in providing information to adolescents.

All of the girls knew about distribution of IFA tablets whereas deworming tablets were known to (n=110, 77.4%) girls. In spite of their knowledge on distribution of tablets, (n=95, 66.9%) were taking IFA tablets which was significantly higher among school going girls. Out of those not consuming IFA, (n=16, 34%) did not receive tablets and rest i.e., (n=31, 66%) feared of side effects like bad taste and blackish stool. Deworming tablets were taken by (n=84, 59.2%) girls. Rest had not received them.

In study by Sau DA, in West Bengal in 2016, it was found that, 12.6 % girls are non compliant to IFA tablet consumption out of which 52% feared of unpleasant side effects [19]. According to Dhikale P and Suguna E, majority (85.8%) of the students consumed IFA tablets weekly. Absenteeism (55.1%), powdery tablet (22.4%), and side effects (22.5%) were reasons for non compliance [20]. Non compliance in the above studies which was lower than that of the present study may be attributed to higher level of health awareness and concern.

They were not provided with any preventive health check ups. Though (n=30, 21.1%) were suffering from RTI but none of them went to the AWCs for treatment or consultation. According to Ram R et al., 64% girls were suffering from RTI [21]. Prevalence of RTI in present study was less which might be because most of girls were school going and were aware about hygiene In study by Siddaiah A et al., symptoms of RTI was reported by (n=71,25.9%) out of which half did not seek any treatment. Prevalence of RTI was consistent with that of present study [22].

Inspite of knowledge of menstrual hygiene, sanitary napkins and clothes were exclusively used by (n=31, 43.7%) and (n=28, 39.4%) girls respectively. Rest (n=12, 16.9%) used both. In study by Deo D and Ghattargi C, majority of girls preferred to use cloth pieces during menses [23]. According to Dasgupta A, and Sarkar M, (n=78,48.75%) girls knew the use of sanitary napkins but only (n=18,11.25%) girls used them which was less than the present study [24]. Findings were better in study by Kamath R et al., in which 70.4% girls were using sanitary napkins [25]. According to Patle R and Sanjay K, more number of urban 62.03% girls were using sanitary pads as compared to rural 43.4% [26]. Awareness and SES are the major predictors of rate of use of sanitary napkins.

Menstrual hygiene was adequate for (n=49, 69%) girls. Adequacy of menstrual hygiene was significantly higher among school going girls. Khanna A et al., in their study found that, schooling, residence, father’s occupation, caste and exposure to media mainly influenced menstrual hygiene, lack of which resulted in RTIs [27]. Dhingra R et al., in their study in 2009, found that menstrual hygiene was unsatisfactory which was influenced by SES and age [28]. Ray S and Dasgupta A, found that menstrual hygiene was better among those girls whose mothers were literate, completed higher secondary education, aware about menstruation prior to menarche, using sanitary latrine, and exposed to media [29]. In study by Mishra SK et al., urban girls have better menstrual hygienic practices and hence less RTI as compared to rural [30].

All the AWWs were aware of the services to be provided to the adolescents; still none of them gave any counseling or health education regarding nutrition or reproductive health to the girls. Lack of regular supervision may be the reason responsible for this unsatisfactory performance.

All girls enrolled in AWC could not be interviewed. Even due to scarcity of time, few details could not be elicited properly. Above two were reasons for which results of the study cannot be generalized for a larger population.

All the beneficiaries as well as AWWs were aware about some or other services available under RMNCH+A. Even though there was adequate supply of IFA, one-third of the adolescents were not consuming it. There was, however, inadequate supply of deworming tablets. None of the AWWs provided any health education or counselling to the beneficiaries. Hence, school teachers and parents should be made aware about the services provided under the programmes so that it would help in utilisation of services. Supportive supervision of AWWs would help in improving quality coverage. The study reveals that due to lacuna at various levels of implementation of RMNCH+A, it is being utilised less effectively.

Note: The copy of the questionnaire can be requested from the author and/or the editorial.