Menstrual Hygiene In Rural India: Challenges We Can’t Ignore

Menstrual hygiene, which is essential for every woman across the globe, is a crucial concern for rural India. With urban places experiencing exponential growth, rural areas seem to still be more vulnerable to issues related to hygiene and dignity. These issues sprout from existing social structures, lack of knowledge & access to more hygienic, healthy sanitation practices, and affordable menstruation supplies.

According to a 2022 study by Singh, A., Chakrabarty, M., Singh, S. et al, only 42% of adolescent women in rural India exclusively used hygienic methods, with substantial geographic disparities at the state and district levels. At the state level, the exclusive use of hygienic methods varied from 23% in Uttar Pradesh to 85% in Tamil Nadu.

On World Menstrual Hygiene Day, below are some key challenges that rural women face in terms of menstrual hygiene: 

Social Taboos and Stigma

In most villages, even today, menstruation is a hush-hush affair and often seen as something impure. From restricting them from stepping out of their houses, to discouraging them from sharing beds with other family members, the social misconception problem is cemented for years, creating a culture lacking to organize easily accessible resources and at the same time shields oneself away from sensitive topics.

Many young girls, their mothers, and their elders find this to be an uncomfortable topic to talk about. This absence of knowledge results in confusion, accompanied by unordinary high standards of cleanliness when periods show up. 

Inadequate Access to Menstrual Products

Access to low-cost and hygienic menstrual products is still a big issue. Although sanitary napkins are easily available in urban areas, most rural women lack access to the facilities or the means to purchase them. There is also a massive need to distribute low-cost menstrual products. The shops in most villages do not have adequate storage for sanitary napkins.

Moreover, shaming women in public for buying sanitary napkins and a lack of privacy keep girls and women from buying napkins openly. Government programs like the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme and subsidised sanitary pad distribution have made significant progress; this scheme serves as a ray of hope for rural women and is steadily reaching even the most remote areas. 

Lack of Sanitation and Disposal Facilities

Inadequate sanitation facilities add to the problem. Girls miss school during their periods because of inadequate facilities, no water, or fear of stains and embarrassment. The absence from school results in lower performance and, in extreme cases, early school dropout, further leading to gender disparity in rural India.

Proper disposal of menstrual materials is also a neglected area. Without appropriate waste disposal channels, women and girls end up burying, incinerating, or disposing of napkins in public areas, a practice that is both unhygienic and harmful to the environment. The issue is also compounded by ignorance regarding environmentally friendly alternatives and sustainable menstruation.

Health Implications

Inadequate menstrual hygiene leads to a variety of health problems, such as urinary tract infections, reproductive tract infections, and even infertility. Too often, these health consequences are not addressed because of a lack of access to healthcare services, a lack of awareness, and the stigma surrounding talking about reproductive health. Most women suffer in silence, viewing it as part of life.

The Way Forward

Managing menstrual health in rural India needs to be a multi-pronged strategy. There should be proper menstrual education in school curricula and community initiatives. Boys need to be included as well to minimise stigmatisation and lead to understanding. Women's self-help groups can help in setting up vending machines for sanitary napkins at low cost, good-quality menstrual products locally, and developing sustainable options and economic opportunities. Such micro enterprises can be scaled up. SHGs can challenge social norms and take it up as an agenda for long-term transformative change.

From a systems change perspective, all stakeholders need awareness and, specifically, sensitisation. Decentralised and effective policy implementation, and proper investment in menstrual health programs are crucial.

Most importantly, facilitating open discussion at home and among communities will break the silence around menstruation and enable women and girls to maintain their dignity during their periods.

Authored by Sarbani Bose, Integrator, PRADAN. Views expressed are the author's own.