Advancing Menstrual Hygiene Sustainability: Empowering Women in India

Introduction

Menstrual hygiene is a critical issue that affects millions of women around the world, including in India. For far too long, the lack of proper menstrual hygiene management has hindered women's empowerment and overall well-being. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of advancing menstrual hygiene sustainability as a means to promote female empowerment in India. This blog post will explore the various aspects of menstrual hygiene sustainability and its significance in empowering women.

Challenges in Menstrual Hygiene Sustainability:

Infrastructure: A lack of adequate sanitation services in schools and communities leaves millions of women and girls globally without proper facilities to manage menstruation, leading to absenteeism and educational setbacks. According to UNICEF, around 367 million children lack access to sanitation services in their schools, highlighting the urgent need for improved infrastructure to support menstrual hygiene management.

Education: Insufficient infrastructure and stigma surrounding menstruation contribute to school absenteeism among girls, impacting their academic performance and hindering their overall educational attainment. Studies have shown that girls often miss school days due to lack of access to menstrual products and proper sanitation facilities, leading to gaps in their education and perpetuating cycles of poverty.

Product Supply/Affordability: In many countries, including India, there is a lack of affordable menstrual products or gaps in supply, forcing menstruators to resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as transactional sex to obtain sanitary pads. According to a study published in BMC Health, 12% of menstruators in India cannot afford period products, highlighting the economic barriers to menstrual hygiene management.

Solid Waste/Environment: Disposable menstrual products contribute significantly to global waste, with billions of pads discarded each month, exacerbating environmental degradation and pollution. In India alone, 12.3 billion pads per month generate 113,000 metric tons of annual menstrual waste, posing serious environmental and health hazards.

Stigma: Social norms perpetuate the stigma surrounding menstruation, leading to shame and misinformation among adolescent girls, hindering their ability to manage their periods with dignity and confidence. More than 80% of adolescent girls in rural India believe that menstrual blood contains harmful substances, reflecting deep-seated cultural taboos and misconceptions.

Solutions for Menstrual Hygiene Sustainability:

Integrated Approaches: Holistic approaches combining Sexual and Reproductive Health Education, sanitary infrastructure, and access to sustainable and affordable menstrual products have shown promising results in reducing school drop-out rates and enhancing female empowerment. By addressing the root causes of menstrual hygiene challenges and promoting comprehensive interventions, we can create supportive environments for menstruators to manage their periods with dignity and confidence.

Entrepreneurial Opportunities: The menstrual products industry presents opportunities for female employment and innovation, with initiatives like menstrual cups offering sustainable alternatives and promoting reproductive health awareness. By investing in local entrepreneurship and supporting initiatives that address menstrual hygiene challenges, we can empower women to take control of their menstrual health and contribute to sustainable development.

The Impact of Menstrual Cups:

Research has shown that the provision of menstrual cups has a transformative impact on menstrual hygiene management. According to a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, only 1.4% of college-going women used modern menstrual methods, including menstrual cups and tampons. The dominance of sanitary pads as the primary menstrual hygiene product is consistent with previous studies, highlighting the popularity of pads among Indian women due to their ease of use, availability, and affordability.

Furthermore, a study published by BMC Health revealed that the adoption of menstrual cups can significantly reduce unmet needs associated with menstrual hygiene. The study found that menstrual cups provided better material reliability and reuse security, addressing some of the challenges faced by traditional methods like sanitary pads. Moreover, menstrual cups minimize the economic burden and menstrual waste compared to the use of disposable pads, offering long-term cost benefits and environmental sustainability.

Additional Insights from the Study:

In a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, researchers explored the menstrual hygiene practices among college-going women. The study sheds light on the prevalence of different methods used and identifies unmet needs associated with these practices.
Key Findings:
Usage of Menstrual Methods:
Modern Methods: Only 1.4% of college-going women opted for modern menstrual methods, including menstrual cups and tampons.
Sanitary Pads: 96.3% of participants relied on sanitary pads as their primary menstrual hygiene method.
Among sanitary pad users, 98.6% used disposable pads.
50.4% used non-biodegradable pads, contributing to environmental concerns.
Awareness Gap:
16.5% of women were unaware of whether their sanitary pads were biodegradable or non-biodegradable.
Unmet Needs:
Modern Menstrual Methods (MMMs):
Lower Unmet Needs: Compared to other methods, MMMs had significantly lower unmet needs in areas such as material reliability, home environment, reuse, and reuse insecurity.
No Significant Difference: Unmet needs related to transport, college environment, change, and disposal insecurity showed no significant difference between MMMs, sanitary pads, and other menstrual hygiene methods.
Predictors of Modern Menstrual Method Usage:
Age: Women over 21 years were more likely to adopt modern methods.
Residence: Urban residents showed higher adoption rates.
Type of Stay: Those living off-campus (including home, with relatives, hostels, or as paying guests) were more likely to use MMMs.
Socioeconomic Status: Women from upper socioeconomic backgrounds favored modern methods.
Parental Education: Higher education levels of both fathers and mothers influenced adoption.
Source of Personal Income: Financial independence played a role.

Social Influence:
Peer Discussions: Conversations with friends or peers before and after menarche positively impacted the adoption of modern menstrual methods.
Family Discussions: Interestingly, discussions with family members (mothers and/or sisters) did not show a statistically significant association.

The Way Forward

Ensuring menstrual hygiene sustainability is essential for promoting female empowerment and inclusive development in India. By addressing infrastructure gaps, affordability issues, and stigma surrounding menstruation, we can create a more equitable and sustainable future for women and girls. Through integrated approaches, entrepreneurial initiatives, and the promotion of menstrual cups, we can overcome the challenges faced in menstrual hygiene management and pave the way for a healthier and more empowered society.