International Women’s Day and Menstrual Health: India is at the forefront of global social change. Yet, when it comes to menstrual health and hygiene, we still lag far behind due to extreme poverty.
According to UNICEF, only 13% of Indian girls are aware of menstruation before experiencing it themselves. 60% of girls miss school during menstruation or drop out permanently due to lack of basic infrastructure and other challenges. For instance, some municipal schools force girls to use open toilets or share facilities with boys.
In 15,000 government schools across India, there are no toilets. Disposal facilities for sanitary pads are often unavailable. This is an area that urgently needs improvement.
Even today, two out of three women lack access to safe menstrual products. They resort to unhygienic options like cloth or leaves, leading to repeated infections.
Also read: Recent Innovations in Fertility Preservation
This can have long-term effects on their health, including infertility. Both in workplaces and villages, the menstrual needs of women are often overlooked, with inadequate and separate clean toilet facilities.
Moreover, with women in our country earning an average of only ₹180 per day and a vast population living below poverty lines, sanitary products can be unaffordable.
No woman should have to resort to unsafe options. Access to sanitary napkins is a basic right. In addition to affordable sanitary pads, promoting reusable silicone cups, which can last for years, is necessary.
Training women in rural communities to make sanitary pads from cloth is another sustainable solution. With proper packaging, these can be sold directly to communities or local stores, providing income to women while reducing the cost of sanitary pads by up to two-thirds.
Government Intervention to Improve the Lack of Education Scenario
This initiative began in 2011, providing six “Freedays” sanitary napkins for a nominal price in 107 selected districts of 17 states. Since 2014, under the National Health Mission, states/UTs are being funded to procure and distribute packs of six sanitary napkins at a subsidized rate of ₹6 per pack for rural adolescents. For every pack sold, ₹1 incentive is provided, and every month, they receive a free pack for personal use.
Period poverty is a direct consequence of the lack of awareness about menstruation, prevalent in both rural and urban areas. Many women don’t understand this biological process properly. Women, especially adolescents, undergo significant hormonal fluctuations during menstruation.
Awareness about its impact on their mental health can help them cope with mood swings, anxiety, and depression during menstruation.
Also read: Cervical Cancer Prevention: Is Screening, Vaccination, or Both are Effective
This severe lack of awareness also stems from a culture of silence around menstruation, laden with myths and stigmas that force women to consider menstruation as ‘dirty’ and ‘impure.’ This conditioning reinforces the prevalent mindset that women occupy a lower status in society.
Period poverty is also linked to gender inequality, making menstrual hygiene a neglected topic of discussion. Most men lack basic understanding of menstruation and its physical aspects.
Why not launch a campaign, akin to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, to normalize menstrual health and hygiene?
Only when men and all sections of society are involved in campaigns to raise awareness about menstruation across various social sectors, can we bring about a significant revolution in menstrual health and hygiene.
For this to happen, we need strong public-private partnerships. Recognizing and addressing entrenched taboos and norms is essential.
For example, menstrual health and hygiene education should be included in school curriculums. Similarly, by facilitating the formation of self-help groups, we can harness the vast capacity of communities. By training beneficiaries to educate their families and other women in their communities, we can leverage a multiplier effect.
Through this trickle-down effect, our reach and impact can increase tenfold. Understanding local languages and indigenous cultures is crucial for reaching rural communities. Respecting cultural practices while reducing stigma and effecting change will be vital.
Expert nutritionist, Lovneet Batra states, “Every girl and woman experiences menstruation—a natural, healthy process that deserves neither secrecy nor shame. Yet, in India, many face stigma and silence, hindering access to vital information and support. This affects their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, as well as their educational and career opportunities.
Our society clings to numerous myths about menstruation, labeling period blood as impure and imposing restrictions on menstruating women. These misconceptions, devoid of scientific backing, harm the health and dignity of girls and women.
In rural India, menstrual stigma thrives on traditional beliefs and cultural taboos, perpetuating silence and shame. Conversely, in urban areas, societal pressures and modern influences contribute to misinformation and barriers to education and support.
To break this cycle of ignorance, we must foster a culture of openness and trust around menstruation. Educating both parents and children about menstruation facts and dispelling myths is crucial. Using respectful, empowering language, devoid of stereotypes, is imperative. Let’s celebrate menstruation as a natural and essential aspect of life, honoring the strength of those who experience it every month.”
ALSO READ: International Women’s Day 2024: Top Women CEOs Making Waves in India
