Skip to main content

Table 3 Perceptions of study participants on socio-cultural practices associated with menstruation, measured using the Likert scale

From: Perception and practices of menstruation restrictions among urban adolescent girls and women in Nepal: a cross-sectional survey

Perception of practices during Menstruation (N = 1342)

Strongly agree

N (%)a

Agree

N (%)a

Strongly disagree

N (%)a

Disagree

N (%)a

Neither agree nor disagree

N (%)a

Okay for women to practice Chhaupadi

13 (1.0)

22 (1.6)

693 (51.6)

322 (24.0)

292 (21.8)

Tree/ plant will spoil if a menstruating woman touches it

29 (2.2)

93 (6.9)

681 (50.8)

345 (25.7)

194 (14.4)

Does not matter if a menstruating woman touches a male family member

343 (25.6)

613 (45.7)

175 (13.0)

160 (11.9)

51 (3.8)

Important for women to eat separately while menstruating

18 (1.4)

101 (7.5)

647 (48.2)

525 (39.1)

51 (3.8)

Better if women do not eat dairy products while menstruating

25 (1.9)

97 (7.2)

571 (42.5)

546 (40.7)

103 (7.7)

Important to purify all bed clothes after use on 4th day of menstruation

103 (7.7)

687 (51.2)

183 (13.6)

202 (15.1)

167 (12.4)

Good to have specific sets of clothes to wear during menstruation

44 (3.3)

235 (17.5)

365 (27.2)

530 (39.5)

168 (12.5)

Good that women do not enter kitchen during menstruation

28 (2.1)

161 (12.0)

474 (35.3)

577 (43.0)

102 (7.6)

Women should not go to places of worship while menstruating

94 (7.0)

692 (51.6)

167 (12.4)

206 (15.4)

183 (13.6)

It is considerate not to attend religious gatherings while menstruating

98 (7.3)

552 (41.2)

188 (14.0)

289 (21.5)

215 (16.0)

A woman should be able to go wherever she wants irrespective of menstrual cycle status

304 (22.6)

793 (59.1)

92 (6.9)

95 (7.1)

58 (4.3)

Women should be able to use the washroom in the home when menstruating

300 (22.4)

687 (51.2)

136 (10.1)

180 (13.4)

39 (2.9)

When menstruating it is monthly rest/ holiday for women not to go to the kitchen to cook

137 (10.2)

709 (52.8)

122 (9.1)

215 (16.0)

159 (11.9)

Nice for women to not have to cook while menstruating

47 (3.5)

295 (22.0)

230 (17.1)

584 (43.5)

186 (13.9)

A woman should be able to rest whenever she wants to

360 (26.8)

781 (58.2)

67 (5.0)

65 (4.8)

69 (5.2)

  1. Notes: n (%)a = Frequency (row percentages)