Perception of Women Towards Media Credibility in Creating Menstrual Hygiene Awareness: A Case Study in Vijayapura District

Abstract

Menstruation is a biological process occurs in every woman’s body usually after 11 to 15 years of age. Particularly this age is beginning of a woman’s reproductive life. It is very important to maintain the hygiene related practices during the time of menstruation. The media establishes trust in specific brand products, encourages the use of hygienic products during menstruation, and maintains hygiene in washrooms and pertinent health services in both urban and rural areas. Exploratory research design has been used to analyze the selected problem. A structured questionnaire was prepared to collect data from the rural and urban girls. The sample was selected using a multistage sampling method. Specifically, respondents were chosen from thirteen talukas within the district: Vijayapura, Basavan Bagewadi, Sindagi, Indi, Muddebihal, Nidagundi, Talikote, Bableshwar, Tikota, Chadchan, Devar Hipparagi, Kolhar, and Almel. In each taluka, 30 respondents were randomly selected, resulting in a total of 390 respondents. Suitable statistical techniques such as: percentage, chi-square was used to analyze the data. The results of the study show that whereas traditional media such as newspapers and television continue to play a role, social media has emerged as the most powerful and credible platform in disseminating menstrual hygiene information. A great majority of respondents depends on social media for information; it shows the shift towards digital platforms in modern communication.