Menstrual Hygiene Management : A Study of Perception, Problem, and Practices Among Urban Slums of Delhi

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Harshita Kejriwal ◽  
Shubham Jain ◽  
Shiksha Kushwah ◽  
Mahim Sagar ◽  
Manvi Bansal
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Wilbur ◽  
Shubha Kayastha ◽  
Thérèse Mahon ◽  
Belen Torondel ◽  
Shaffa Hameed ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is a recognised public health, social and educational issue, which must be achieved to allow the realisation of human rights. People with disabilities are likely to experience layers of discrimination when they are menstruating, but little evidence exists. Methods The study aims to investigate barriers to MHM that people with disabilities and their carers face in the Kavrepalanchok, Nepal, using qualitative methods. Twenty people with disabilities, aged 15–24, who menstruate and experience ‘a lot of difficulty’ or more across one or more of the Washington Group functional domains were included, as well as 13 carers who provide menstrual support to these individuals. Purposeful sampling was applied to select participants. Different approaches were used to investigating barriers to MHM and triangulate data: in-depth interviews, observation, PhotoVoice and ranking. We analysed data thematically, using Nvivo 11. Results Barriers to MHM experienced by people with disabilities differ according to the impairment. Inaccessible WASH facilities were a major challenge for people with mobility, self-care and visual impairments. People with intellectual impairments had difficulty accessing MHM information and their carers despaired when they showed their menstrual blood to others, which could result in abuse. No support mechanisms existed for carers for MHM, and they felt overwhelmed and isolated. Menstrual discomfort was a major challenge; these were managed with home remedies, or not at all. Most participants followed menstrual restrictions, which were widespread and expected; many feared they would be cursed if they did not. As disability is often viewed as a curse, this demonstrates the layers of discrimination faced. Conclusion Issues related to MHM for people with disabilities is more complex than for others in the population due to the additional disability discrimination and impairment experienced. Research exploring these issues must be conducted in different settings, and MHM interventions, tailored for impairment type and carers requirements,should be developed. Attention to, and resourcing for disability inclusive MHM must be prioritised to ensure ‘no one is left behind’.


Author(s):  
Laura Rossouw ◽  
Hana Ross

Menstrual hygiene management and health is increasingly gaining policy importance in a bid to promote dignity, gender equality and reproductive health. Effective and adequate menstrual hygiene management requires women and girls to have access to their menstrual health materials and products of choice, but also extends into having private, clean and safe spaces for using these materials. The paper provides empirical evidence of the inequality in menstrual hygiene management in Kinshasa (DRC), Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rajasthan (India), Indonesia, Nigeria and Uganda using concentration indices and decomposition methods. There is consistent evidence of wealth-related inequality in the conditions of menstrual hygiene management spaces as well as access to sanitary pads across all countries. Wealth, education, the rural-urban divide and infrastructural limitations of the household are major contributors to these inequalities. While wealth is identified as one of the key drivers of unequal access to menstrual hygiene management, other socio-economic, environmental and household factors require urgent policy attention. This specifically includes the lack of safe MHM spaces which threaten the health and dignity of women and girls.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (Issue 3) ◽  
pp. 107-115
Author(s):  
Renata Magayane ◽  
Jackson Meremo

The study aimed at examining menstrual hygiene management practices among adolescent girls in public secondary schools in Kibondo District. The study used the mixed research approach with the convergent parallel design. The study was comprised of the sample size of 99 respondents from four out of 17 schools, including ten parents, 12 female teachers, 68 students, 4 matrons, 4 Heads of schools and 1 District Education Officer. Data collection was done through semi-structured interview, focus group discussion and questionnaire. Qualitative data analysis was done through content analysis while quantitative data were analyzed descriptively with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20 and presented in tables through percentages, and frequencies. The study discovered that there are problems in MHM practices among public secondary schools under investigation. There were shortages of menstrual hygiene management practice facilities such as toilets and private areas to change absorbent pads, disposable mechanisms and water. The study recommended that adolescent girls should be provided with sanitary pads and education. There is need to improve MHM facilities such as water, disposable mechanisms and private rooms for changing absorbent materials for effective management of menstrual periods. Menstrual hygiene management topics should be integrated into the syllabi in order to increase awareness on MHM to adolescent girls. Teachers and health workers should closely provide guidance and health talks to adolescent girls, advising them on how to manage their menstrual-related illness effectively for their good performance in school.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Lutfun Nahar Poly ◽  
Ashik Zaman ◽  
Eashrat Jahan Eyemoon

Menstruation is an absolute natural-normal biological process of adolescents though it is unfortunately accompanied with different taboos in the society of Bangladesh. A significant number of adolescent girls have considerable lacuna of knowledge on menstruation as well as menstrual hygiene management. Thus, the aim of the study is to know how the issue of menstruation is presented on TV advertisement and what roles TV advertisements play in shaping the knowledge, attitude, and practice of girls and their parents on menstruation and menstruation hygiene management. Both content analysis and questionnaire survey have been used to present the realities of the role of TV advertisement in menstrual hygiene management process in Bangladesh. At present, about 70 percent girls are inspired to use sanitary napkin watching TV advertisement. TV advertisements play vital role to break the shackle of menstrual taboo and also provide essential information about menstruation as well as menstrual hygiene management.


Author(s):  
Jane Wilbur ◽  
Thérèse Mahon ◽  
Belen Torondel ◽  
Shaffa Hameed ◽  
Hannah Kuper

Background: The Bishesta campaign is a menstrual hygiene management (MHM) intervention developed to meet the specific needs of people with intellectual impairments and their carers. It was designed and delivered in the Kavre district, Nepal. This paper explores the campaign’s feasibility and acceptability. Methods: The Bishesta campaign was delivered to ten people with an intellectual impairment and their eight carers. Data on the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention was collected through: Structured questionnaire to participants before and after the intervention, process monitoring data, post-intervention in-depth interviews with all carers, observation of people with intellectual impairments, key informant interviews with all facilitators and staff involved in the campaign, as well as ranking of the perceived appropriateness and acceptability of campaign components by carers and facilitators. Results: The Bishesta campaign was acceptable for the target groups, facilitators, and implementers. It was largely delivered with fidelity. Participants used most of the campaign components; these made the target behaviours attractive and enabled participants to carry them out with ease. There were improvements across all target behaviours. The focus of this study was feasibility, not limited-efficancy; however, indicative positive outcomes from this small sample were observed, such as an increase in young people’s levels of confidence, comfort, and autonomy during menstruation. Conclusion: Within the sample, the Bishesta campaign appears to be a feasible intervention to ensure that one of the groups most vulnerable to exclusion from MHM interventions is not left behind.


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