Menstrual hygiene management should be part of an expanded definition and agenda for sexual and reproductive health services. This manual is for facilitators using as we grow up. Use of sanitary pads and washing the genital area are essential practices to keep the menstrual hygiene. However, the attention on this issue is far from sufficient and even the literature on gender mainstreaming in the sanitary section is silent on the issue of menstrual management. Menstrual hygiene management mhm refers to management of hygiene associated with the menstrual process. Mmr, imr, tfr, specially gender segregated sanitation and menstrual hygiene management, and the process at rural house hold and schools are considerably poor and not in practice. Menstrual hygiene management is an integral part of the swachh bharat mission guidelines sbmg the menstrual hygiene management guideline is issued by the ministry of drinking water and sanitation to support all adolescent girls and women it outlines what needs to be done by state governments, district.
Measuring the prevalence and impact of poor menstrual. Introduction to the menstrual hygiene management mhm operational guidelines. Menstrual hygiene a neglected condition for the achievement of several millennium development goals by dr. Menstrual hygiene management mhm is a major health issue affecting women and girls of reproductive age worldwide. Menstrual hygiene management mhm programming in emergencies involves adjustments and improvements to a range of sectoral interventions including water sanitation and hygiene wash, protection, reproductive health, education, non food items nfisand shelter. Menstrual hygiene management page 2 policy brief menstrual hygiene management background menstrual hygiene management is an emerging topic of interest in the water, sanitation and hygiene wash sector.
Menstrual hygiene management mhm refers to the practice of using clean materials to absorb menstrual blood that can be changed privately, safely, hygienically, and as often as needed for the duration of the menstrual cycle. This project is addressing the specific issue on menstrual hygiene management of school girls and women from rural nepal. Adolescence and puberty is a time of intense physical and emotional change for young people between the ages of 10 and 17. Menstrual health in india country landscape analysis. Differing approaches to menstrual hygiene management mhm have been associated with a wide range of health and psychosocial outcomes in lower income settings. Pdf menstrual hygiene management in resourcepoor countries. Objectives the primary objective was to describe ugandan schoolgirls menstrual hygiene management mhm practices and estimate the prevalence of inadequate mhm. Unhygienic menstrual practices can affect the health of the girls and there is an increased vulnerability to reproductive tract infections and pelvic inflammatory diseases and other complications. While some components are specific to menstruation such as the provision. There is a significant gap in empirical evidence on the menstrual hygiene management mhm challenges faced by adolescent girls and women in emergency contexts, and on appropriate humanitarian response approaches to meet their needs in diverse emergency contexts. Together with local governments and schools we are training district health workers, teachers and volunteers to educate young people about periods and talk about them in a shamefree way. Menstruation hygiene management for schoolgirls this guide outlines the problems experienced by menstruating schoolgirls in lowincome countries. According to joint monitoring programme jmp of who and unicef, menstrual hygiene management refers to.
Who and unicef joint monitoring programme jmp for drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene has used the following definition of mhm. Menstrual hygiene management a definition the joint monitoring programme jmp of who and unicef, has proposed the following definition of menstrual hygiene management mhm. Mhm practices can be particularly unhygienic and inconvenient for girls and women in poorer settings. We helped increase mhm knowledge, eliminate stigma, and expand access to affordable and hygienic sanitary pads among women and adolescent girls. Understanding the menstrual hygiene management challenges.
It is our responsibility to design, implement, and monitor our program to introduction to the menstrual hygiene management mhm operational guidelines respect those sensitivities, as well as reduce the social stigma of menstruation and puberty. Women and adolescent girls are using clean menstrual management materials to absorb or collect blood that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary for the duration of the menstruation period, using soap and water for washing the body as required. Menstrual hygiene management in the swachh bharat g guideline. However, most schools in developing countries, especially in rural areas, have inadequate facilities including water supply for girls to wash hands. At menarche, schoolgirls in jaipur, rajasthan report their dominant feelings. Policy brief menstrual hygiene management menstrual. This policy brief summarises previous research on menstrual hygiene management mhm and highlights the sanitation and. Adequate management of menstrual hygiene is taken for granted in affluent countries. What is plan international doing to support menstrual hygiene management.
Belief, myths and taboos menstruation is a natural process. Moreover, only 12 per cent of indian women and girls use commercial sanitary products. Women and adolescent girls are using a clean menstrual management material to absorb or collect. Menstruation and menstrual practices still face many social, cultural, and religious restrictions which are a big barrier in the path of menstrual hygiene management.
Interactions between menstrual hygiene management and sanitation systems. Women and adolescent girls are using a clean menstrual management material to absorb or collect menstrual blood, that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary for the duration of. Role of menboys towards menstrual hygiene management one of the main reasons why menstruation is a taboo. The menstrual hygiene management project 20122016 helped 100,000 rural women and girls to manage their menstruation safely and effectively. Menstrual hygiene management mhm is an essential aspect of hygiene for women and adolescent girls between menarche and menopause. Overview goal methodology study findings recommendationskey points for discussion. Practices and challenges faced by girlswomen of developing countries rajanbirkaur,1 kanwaljitkaur,2 andrajinderkaur 1. While it has previously been underresearched there is now increasing momentum and focus on this important topic. In many parts of the country especially in rural areas girls are not prepared and aware about menstruation so they face many difficulties and challenges at home, schools, and work places.
Menstrual hygiene management in rural schools of zambia. Menstrual hygiene medical womens international association. Although its focus is predominantly subsaharan africa, many of the issues raised are relevant to girls in most lowincome countries, although there may be differences in popular practice and beliefs. Menarche is the onset of menstruation, the time when a girl has her first menstrual period.
It includes both a summary of the existing menstrual hygiene needs and management and also an analysis of the current knowledge in the fields of public health, water and sanitation, and solid waste management. In india, it is estimated that 200 million women have a poor understanding of menstrual hygiene practices. Adolescence and puberty is a time of intense physical and emotional change for young people between the. Menstrual hygiene and management will directly contribute to mdg2 on universal education, mdg3 on gender equality and women empowerment 12.
Menstrual hygiene management mhm is a problem for adolescent girls in low and middle income countries lmics, particularly when attending school. We improve access to menstrual hygiene supplies, which includes establishing sanimarts, and. Landscape analysis of menstrual hygiene products and a wasteloading model robyn wilmouth 1 path, nancy muller path, carley truyens 2 path, laura hoppenjans 2 path, marni sommer columbia university, sarah adelman mt. Menstrual hygiene management mhm is one among several challenges and opportunities and it is the focus of these guidelines. Women and adolescent girls are using a clean menstrual management material to absorb or collect menstrual blood, that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary for the duration of a menstrual period, using soap and water for washing the body as required, and having. Despite being an important issue concerning women and girls in the menstruating age group mhm is often overlooked in postdisaster responses. Menstrual hygiene management in ghana understanding the socio cultural, economic, political factors, challenges and opportunities nnlap, coconut groove 26 january 2017. We adapt and construct mhmappropriate sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools, communities, and health care facilities. However, in most parts of the world, it remains a taboo and is rarely talked about house et al.
Menstrual hygiene practices, wash access and the risk of. Menstrual hygiene management mhm programming in emergencies involves adjustments and improvements to a range of sectoral interventions including water sanitation and hygiene wash, protection, reproductive health, education, non food items nfis and shelter. Wed like to understand how you use our websites in order to improve them. Varina tjon a ten introduction up until now, poor menstrual hygiene in developing countries has been an insufficiently acknowledged problem. Menstrual hygiene management menstrual hygiene day. Fiftytwo per cent of the female population is of reproductive age at any given time1. This paper systematically collates, summarizes and critically appraises the available evidence. The best place to make an impact on improving the lives of girls and women is in water and sanitation. This article is an effort to begin to document the recommendation of key multidisciplinary experts working in humanitarian response on effective approaches to menstrual hygiene management mhm in emergency contexts, along with a summarising the existing literature, and the identification of remaining gaps in mhm practice, research and policy. The tactile book has been designed in consultation with visually impaired women and girls to break the silence on menstruation, provide. The main sources of information about menstrual hygiene management were teachers for 212 43. Menstrual hygiene management and school absenteeism among. The time has come to promote loudly and unashamedly the role of good menstrual hygiene management mhm as a trigger for better, stronger development of women and girls.
The girls and women will be empowered to advocate for uplifting the existing sanitation. The improper menstrual hygiene management is another big problem and. The issue of menstrual hygiene is inadequately acknowledged and has not received proper attention. Women and adolescent girls are using a clean menstrual management material to absorb or collect menstrual blood, that can be changed in privacy.
Menstrual hygiene management mhm practices vary worldwide and depend on the individuals socioeconomic status, personal preferences, local traditions and beliefs, and access to water and sanitation resources. Puberty marks a transition between childhood and adulthood that impacts adolescents. Age of menarche and knowledge about menstrual hygiene. Further, there is limited evidence of menstrual hygiene management in humanitarian settings. Findings in this study, 492 students were included, making a response rate of 100%.
Menstrual hygiene management and school absenteeism among female adolescent students in northeast ethiopia. Women and adolescent girls are using clean menstrual management materials to absorb or collect blood that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary for the duration of the menstruation period, using soap and water for washing the body as required, and having access to facilities to. Design secondary analysis of survey data collected as part of the final followup from a controlled trial of. Menstrual hygiene management requires availability of and access to clean and absorbent menstrual material, privacy, water and soap, and disposal facilities for used menstrual materials. Second, to assess the relative contribution of aspects of mhm to health, education and psychosocial outcomes. Although menstrual hygiene management is not a live death issue in emergency settings, it has profound impact upon women and adolescent girls their dignity their dignity, hygiene, health, education, protection and security and there are consequential risks from not addressing it. While some components are specific to menstruation such as. The importance of menstrual hygiene management for sexual. Given the potentially sensitive nature of menstrual hygiene management, no photos of learners. This requires that all state, district and local authorities, including schools, communities and families create an environment where menstrual hygiene management is seen as acceptable and normal.
Young girls also believe that they should be taught about menstrual health management in school, in either 6th or 7th class, before the onset of menarche, so that when it happens they will be. To begin filling the gap in the evidence, we conducted a study in two diverse contexts myanmar and lebanon. To do this, the process often starts by evaluating our own beliefs and biases. Many schoolgirls lack adequate feminine hygiene products, sanitation facilities, and menstrual hygiene education. Menstrual hygiene management mhm refers to management of hygiene associated with the menstrual. Menstrual hygiene management in schools in south asia. Misconceptions regarding menstruation are widespread, and there is a general culture of silence surrounding this topic. Assessment of knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene. The transition into reproductive age for some girls is often met with fear and anxiety due to a lack of knowledge about menstruation and a lack of.
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