Background: Menstruation, a natural process among women upon reaching reproductive age, requires hygienic practices to safeguard their well-being; yet, insufficient knowledge can lead to unsafe behaviours and heightened health risks. In India, cultural taboos and secrecy surrounding menstruation can undermine women's confidence in managing it effectively, impacting their daily lives. Objectives: To assess the menstrual practices of women of reproductive age and identify factors associated with this self-assurance. Methodology: This study was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted amongst females of reproductive age group 15 - 49 years belonging to the rural area of Mangalore Taluk. The total sample size was 275 and a validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data on menstrual practices and self-efficacy. The analysis was done using STATA version 14. Results: The results of the study showed that 80% of the females used disposable sanitary pads, while 20% used cloth as a medium for menstrual protection. About 50% of the females disposed of their menstrual material by flushing it into the toilet, and nearly 50% stored their menstrual material after their last menstrual cycle. Privacy was a concern for almost 40% of the females when disposing of their menstrual material. The mean self-efficacy score of the females was 58.24 ± 17.03, with occupation and place of drying menstrual cloth being significantly associated with self-efficacy. Conclusion: The study found that the majority of women were unaware of newer methods of menstrual protection, and their self-efficacy in addressing menstrual needs was low. As a result, it is important for family members to take steps to improve female literacy and normalize the phenomenon of menstruation in order to promote better menstrual hygiene practices.

Shahal Mansoor completed her Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery degree from Father Muller Homoeopathic Medical College Mangalore. She has extensive clinical expertise, having worked at Dr. Tiwari's homoeopathic clinic for a year. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in public health at K.S Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University. In order to complete her academic requirements, she did a study on "Menstrual practices and self-efficacy among rural women in Mangalore." Her master's degree specialization is in Epidemiology.