How to Work with Local Communities, Schools and Government to Promote Menstrual Hygiene and Break Taboos?

Introduction

For many years, people haven’t talked much about menstruation. It’s been a private topic, and many cultures have rules that make it hard to discuss openly. This lack of talk leads to not knowing enough about it, not having good ways to stay clean, and dire social consequences for many people.

Menstruation is a natural thing that happens to half of the world’s population. But, it’s often seen as something to hide or be embarrassed about. Many cultures have ideas and stories that make menstruation seem strange or sinister. These ideas can make it hard for people to get the correct information and things they need. But dealing with menstruation isn’t just about getting hygiene products. It’s also about teaching good hygiene habits, getting rid of old ideas, and making places where people can talk openly and get support.

Working with local communities, schools, and government groups is essential to do these things. Even though talking about menstruation wasn’t a big deal in big meetings in the past, people have started to make it a priority. Activists worldwide have worked hard to ensure people pay attention to this issue. They see it as a fundamental right for people to be healthy and treated with respect.

This blog will look at ways to work with communities, schools, and governments to learn more about menstruation, share good information, encourage healthy habits, and change old ideas. By working together, we can ensure everyone knows menstruation is normal and nothing to be ashamed of. We can create places where everyone feels respected and understood.

The Scope of the Issue:

Managing menstruation well is hard for many people worldwide, especially in countries where money is low. UNICEF (2023) says about 500 million people who have periods don’t have what they need to manage them properly. This lack of things like pads or a clean place to go to the bathroom causes many problems. People might feel dirty or sick more quickly because they can’t keep clean.

Also, a study by WaterAid in 2020 found that only 1 out of 7 girls knows much about periods before they start having them. Not knowing enough can make girls feel scared or confused when they start their periods. They might not know how to handle it or talk about it with others.

Moreover, many people feel ashamed or have the wrong ideas about periods. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2023) says this shame can make students miss school, feel bad about themselves, and get sick more often. People might mistreat them because they have periods. This makes it hard for them to discuss or get what they need.

To help with this issue, we need to do many things. We must ensure everyone has what they need to manage their periods well. We also need to teach people the correct information about periods so they are confident and clear. And we need to stop people from feeling ashamed or poorly treated because they have periods. This means we all must work together — communities, schools, governments, and groups that help others. If we understand this problem’s size and work together to fix it, we can make a world where having a period is ordinary, and people feel good about it.

Breaking the Chains: A Collaborative Approach

Tackling this complex issue requires a multi-pronged approach involving communities, schools, and governments working hand-in-hand. Here’s how:

1. Engaging Communities:

a. Local Champions: 

Communities can teach health workers, religious leaders, and respected members to become “period champions.” These champions can teach others about menstruation and answer any questions people might have.

b. Community Conversations: 

People can discuss periods in women’s groups, youth meetings, and cultural events openly. These conversations help make periods seem normal and let people talk about any strange ideas they have.

c. Local Research: 

Communities can team up with others to study what people need, what they believe, and how they deal with periods in their area. This helps find the best ways to help. For example, people might need more information in some places, while in others, they might need more accessible access to pads or tampons.

By doing these things, communities can ensure everyone feels okay talking about periods and gets what they need to deal with them well. They can also make sure any old beliefs or practices that aren’t helpful can be changed.

2. Empowering Schools:

Empowering schools is essential in combating the stigma surrounding menstruation and ensuring menstrual equity. Here are some additional considerations to strengthen your suggestions:

a. Go beyond the basics: 

While clean toilets, water, and disposal facilities are crucial, policies should address access to sanitary products through free dispensers or subsidized schemes.

b. Create privacy and accessibility: 

Ensure toilets have adequate locks, sanitary bins, and proper ventilation. Consider providing separate changing areas or designated rest spaces for those experiencing heavy periods.

c. Foster gender equality: 

Involve boys and girls in policy discussions and implementation to dismantle discriminatory practices and promote peer support.

3. Teacher Training:

a. Prioritize age-appropriate and inclusive content: 

Training should equip teachers with the knowledge and confidence to address diverse needs and learning styles across different age groups.

b. Focus on dispelling myths and misconceptions: 

Equip teachers to tackle misinformation and taboos surrounding menstruation head-on, promoting critical thinking and respectful discussions.

c. Practice open communication: 

Role-playing scenarios and facilitating student-teacher dialogues help build a comfortable environment for students to ask questions and seek support.

4. Curriculum Integration:

a. Normalize menstruation as a biological process: 

Integrate lessons about the menstrual cycle into existing health or biology curricula, emphasizing its normalcy and highlighting individual variations.

b. Go beyond the physical: 

Address menstruation’s emotional and social aspects, including managing anxieties, navigating cultural norms, and promoting empathy and understanding.

c. Engage diverse voices: 

Include experts from various backgrounds, such as doctors, counselors, and community leaders, to share their perspectives and enrich the learning experience.

By taking these additional steps, schools can go beyond providing essential information and create a supportive environment where everyone feels empowered and informed about menstruation.

5. Government Intervention:

a. Policy and Advocacy: 

The government should make rules that say menstrual hygiene is essential in hospitals, bathrooms, and schools. By making these rules, the government can ensure that people with periods can get the things they need to stay clean and healthy.

b. Subsidy Schemes: 

The government can make programs that help people buy pads or menstrual cups or tampons for less money, especially if they have little money. This allows everyone, especially those with little money, to get what they need to handle their periods well.

c. Data and Monitoring: 

The government should find out how people manage their periods and what they believe about them. This helps them understand the problems better and see if their programs work. For example, in India, the government started the “Menstrual Hygiene Scheme.” This program gives cheaper sanitary pads to women and girls in rural areas. The program also teaches people about periods to help break old beliefs and keep good hygiene.

By doing these things, governments can help ensure everyone can manage their periods well and feel good about themselves. They can help break the feeling of shame around periods and make sure everyone can live healthy and respectful lives.

Conclusion

By fostering collaboration between communities, schools, and governments, we can break down the walls of silence surrounding menstruation. Through research, education, and policy change, we can empower individuals, improve public health, and pave the way for a more respectful and inclusive society for all.

Let’s create a world where menstruation is not a source of shame but a normal part of life, understood and managed with dignity. Together, we can ensure that everyone can access accurate information, resources, and support networks to embrace menstruation as a natural and healthy aspect of life. Let’s celebrate openness, understanding, and respect for all experiences, fostering environments where everyone can thrive without fear or stigma.

Also Read:

• Breaking the Silence: Initiating Conversations about Menstruation in Schools in India
• Period Shame: How It Affects Girls’ Education in Early and Middle School
• Is Lack of Menstrual Hygiene Education Causing Girls to Drop Out of School?