Table 1 Percentage distribution of menstrual hygiene practices by background characteristics, NFHS-5

Age group

p < 0.001

 15–19 years

50.0

22.5

27.6

 20–24 years

49.6

22.9

27.5

Marital status

p < 0.001

 Never in union

53.0

19.4

27.6

1,58,224

 Currently married/Living with partner

44.4

28.2

27.4

81,557

 Widowed/Divorced/Separated

36.0

34.8

29.2

1,399

Place of Residence

p < 0.001

 Urban

68.1

10.6

21.3

54,561

 Rural

42.2

27.7

30.1

1,86,619

Region

p < 0.001

 North

63.6

12.2

24.2

48,694

 Central

31.4

30.4

38.2

64,401

 East

44.1

28.6

27.4

42,998

 Northeast

34.1

30.9

35.0

31,970

 West

63.8

21.3

14.9

22,023

 South

70.3

9.2

20.4

31,094

Caste

p < 0.001

 SC

48.4

23.6

28.0

49,136

 ST

38.6

34.6

26.7

44,392

 OBC

48.3

22.6

29.1

93,969

 Others

58.3

17.2

24.5

53,683

Religion

p < 0.001

 Hindu

50.2

22.7

27.2

1,81,475

 Muslim

43.1

25.6

31.3

33,773

 Christian

63.0

14.5

22.5

15,802

 Others

67.9

11.6

20.5

10,130

Education

p < 0.001

 No education

18.7

56.7

24.6

16,010

 Primary

25.1

46.7

28.2

15,082

 Secondary

49.6

21.5

28.9

1,68,132

 Higher

69.2

7.4

23.5

41,956

Wealth Index

p < 0.001

 Poorest

24.7

46.7

28.6

52,954

 Poorer

37.5

29.2

33.3

57,319

 Middle

51.9

18.2

29.9

51,275

 Richer

63.2

11.1

25.7

44,733

 Richest

76.9

5.0

18.1

34,899

Toilet facility

p < 0.001

 Improved toilet facility

54.7

18.0

27.4

1,79,822

 Unimproved toilet facility

43.4

27.8

28.8

9,367

 No facility/open defecation

32.2

40.0

27.8

42,893

Mass media exposure

p < 0.001

 No

43.7

27.4

28.8

1,76,405

 Low

64.8

11.1

24.1

57,340

 High

65.3

9.2

25.5

7,435