Reel Stories, Real Change: Menstrual Health Education, Edition 1

This experimental study assessed the effectiveness of short films in educating adolescent girls about menstrual health and hygiene. The study involved 110 girls, aged 10 to 15, from government schools in Vadodara city during the 2022-2023 academic year. A purposive sampling method was used, and data was collected using pre-and post-test questionnaires with open-ended and closed-ended questions. Statistical analysis included frequency distribution, correlation tests, and the Mann-Whitney U test.

The results revealed that 50% of participants were in the 12–13-year age group, 68.2% experienced menarche at this age, and 75.5% used pads. Before watching the short films, 48.2% of the girls had some prior knowledge about menstruation, mainly from their mothers. After exposure to the films, 50.9% reported increased knowledge, particularly in understanding menstrual hygiene practices, though they showed less improvement in areas like pre-menstrual syndrome and hand hygiene. Regarding practices, 47.3% expressed a willingness to adopt healthier menstrual hygiene practices, such as exercising for pain relief and consulting health workers.

The study found significant gains in knowledge and positive attitude changes after watching the films. The girls reported that the short films were entertaining, informative, and easy to understand. The study concludes that short films effectively promote menstrual health awareness and encourage better hygiene practices among adolescent girls.