Assessment of knowledge, practice and perception of menstruation among adult women in the reproductive age group, in Mangalore, India

Background: Women often lack knowledge regarding reproductive health including menstruation which can be due to socio-cultural barriers in which they grow up. The present study is aimed at assessing the level of knowledge regarding menstruation and hygienic practices and perceptions during menstruation.Methods: It was a cross sectional study, conducted among 110 adult women to assess their knowledge regarding menstruation, practices followed during menstruation and their perceptionof menstruation. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 17. 0. Chi square test was applied. P<0.05 was considered to be significant.Results: Only 52% of the study population has satisfactory knowledge regarding menstruation. Women between 15 to 20 years of age and those from the middle and higher socio-economic groups seem to possess maximum knowledge regarding menstruation. Women of the higher socio-economic group practice better sanitary measures during menstruation with 100% of them using pads, as compared to women of lower socio economic group who showed a trend of using cloth (87.5%). Women of the upper socio-economic class (42.78%) had better perception towards menstruation (p<0.05).Conclusions: It is very important that lower socio-economic group should be educated about the importance of maintaining hygiene during menstruation by proper health education and equip them with skills regarding safe and hygienic practices to prevent the risk for reproductive tract infections

Production of extracellular lipase by <i style="">Bacillus megaterium</i> AKG-1 in submerged fermentation

179-183Bacillus megaterium AKG-1, a soil isolate, has been found to produce thermostable lipase during submerged fermentation (SF). Mannitol at a concentration of 0.2% (w/v) was the best carbon source for lipase production (848 units/mL). Among oils, soyabean oil gave highest lipase yield (1160 units/mL), followed by coconut oil (912 units/mL). Lipase yield was maximum (1000 units/mL) with wheat bran (1%) as sole carbon and nitrogen source, followed by neem seed cake (810 units/mL) and cotton seed cake (790 units/mL)