Public Health Issue: Menstrual Health

Context:

In a recent incident, a man from a city in Maharashtra allegedly killed his 12-year-old sister because he mistook period stains on her clothes as a sign of a sexual relationship. 

• The incident is indicative of the extent of misinformation about periods in India’s urban locales.

Challenges Faced by Urban Women Regarding Menstruation:

• Limited awareness and misinformation: Urban women often lack accurate information about menstruation, leading to myths, misconceptions, and inadequate understanding of their own bodies.
• Stigma and discrimination: Menstruation continues to be surrounded by shame and stigma in urban areas, resulting in social exclusion, embarrassment, and discrimination against women during their periods.
• Limited access to menstrual products: While menstrual products may be available in urban areas, accessibility remains a challenge, especially for low-income women. Affordability, availability, and discreet packaging are common barriers.
• Inadequate toilet facilities: Some urban areas, particularly low-income slums and public spaces, lack clean and accessible toilet facilities. 
• Lack of waste management infrastructure: Proper disposal of menstrual waste poses a significant challenge in urban areas. Garbage collection systems may be inadequate, and the disposal of used pads or sanitary products often leads to unhygienic practices.
• Vulnerable populations: Women living in unregistered slums, pavement dwellers, refugee camps, and other vulnerable conditions face additional challenges due to poor living conditions and lack of support systems.

Way Forward: 

• Increasing awareness: Continued efforts should be made to raise awareness about menstruation, debunk myths and misconceptions, and promote accurate information through education programs, media campaigns, and community initiatives.
• Access to menstrual products: There is a need to improve access to affordable and sustainable menstrual products in urban areas. 
  • This can be achieved through collaborations between retail outlets, social enterprises, government schemes, and NGOs to ensure products are easily available and affordable.
• Promoting choice and sustainability: Women should have the right to choose the menstrual products that suit their needs and preferences. 
• Citizen movements: Citizen movements such as ‘Green the Red’ support urban populations to use menstrual cups and cloth pads, providing that much-needed exposure to reusable products.
• Enhancing toilet infrastructure: Female-friendly community and public toilets, such as ‘She Toilets’ in Telangana and Tamil Nadu and ‘Pink Toilets, in Delhi’ should be expanded in urban areas, especially in low-income neighborhoods and public spaces.
• Waste management: Proper disposal of menstrual waste is essential to maintain hygiene and dignity. 
  • Initiatives like the ‘Red Dot Campaign’ and  ‘PadCare Labs’ can promote waste segregation at source.
• Addressing vulnerable populations: Efforts should be made to reach marginalized groups living in unregistered slums, pavements, refugee camps, and other vulnerable conditions. 
• Workplace Support: Formal and informal worksites should ensure that women have access to appropriate menstrual facilities.

News Source: The Hindu