Menstrual health management challenges faced among tribal residential school girls in Maharashtra
Student name: Ms Maria Mathew
Guide: Dr Mini Govindan
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: Aga Khan Planning and Building Services, Mumbai
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Ms Anita Miya
Abstract: Menstruation and menstrual Health management (MHM) are closely linked to the reproductive health of women, particularly, adolescent girls. A wide spread interest has gained on the MHM barriers faced by adolescent schoolgirls in low-income countries at practice and policy levels. The challenges include inadequate water, sanitation and disposal facilities for the management of menstruation with privacy and dignity. In India the status of MHM practices is found to be far from satisfactory level especially among tribal population in rural areas in the country. This study is carried out among tribal residential schools in Mokhada block in Maharashtra to examine the level of knowledge, and perception of students towards menstruation. The challenges faced by these girls to follow appropriate menstrual health management practices and its impact on their School attendance have also been investigated. Findings included: a critical knowledge gap around menstruation and inadequate guidance provided by teachers in managing menstruation. Though, the provision of Sanitary Pads by the Government has improved the hygiene practice with 98.5% girls using Sanitary Pad, problems faced with use of Sanitary pad includes Genito-urinary infections, lack of knowledge on proper use and disposal of pads. Majority of Schools lack basic infrastructure facilities such as water in toilets, sufficient latrines, privacy to change pads and safe disposal facilities of used absorbents. Inadequate School Infrastructure coupled with lack of knowledge and appropriate guidance makes MHM a challenging experience .Despite poor infrastructure facilities ,majority (90.9%) of the girls attend school during menstruation. In-depth interviews with the girls revealed that they prefer to stay in schools because ,back home conditions are even worse due to lack of access to sanitary pad ,timely food and a concrete floor to sleep. Though, majority of girls attend school, they also face problems such as fear of staining clothes ,physical discomfort and lack of concentration in studies.
Key Words: Adolescent Girl, Menstrual Health Management, Knowledge Gap, Menstrual Hygiene, School Attendance, Mokhada
