The Need: The Government of India has already recognized the importance of menstrual hygiene to the health, well-being, and educational achievements of girls and women, and has developed several programs to improve menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in schools, targeted at improving knowledge, access, and disposal of menstrual waste, and improving sanitation in schools. According to 2011 census estimates (the latest available census data), 10% of India’s population were female adolescents aged 10-19 years, which translates into approximately 120 million girls. Although menstruation is celebrated in many parts of India, cultural taboos exist that regularly limit girls from activities during menstruation, including religious restrictions, and freedom to leave the house. This contributes to negative attitudes toward menstruation among women, placing a considerable physical and psychological burden on young girls. A systematic review of Indian studies estimated that barely half (48%) of adolescent girls in India were aware of menarche before their first menstruation, and had inadequate knowledge when attaining menarche. It also documented that the paucity of safe and hygienic disposal systems for menstrual items was worrisome.

To achieve gender equality, it is important that girls can attend and reach their full potential in schools. Inadequate options for menstrual hygiene recently received attention as a barrier to education for girls in low and middle-income countries. Studies have noted poor sanitation in schools and lack of access to good quality sanitary products can be associated with lower enrolment in schools, absenteeism, and dropout. Inadequate menstrual hygiene can potentially have health consequences such as the increased risk of reproductive and urinary tract infections. The problem of menstrual hygiene is multifaceted; girls need to be aware of menarche and be able to manage their menstruation in an enabling environment with access to hygienic menstrual materials and facilities for changing and disposal of menstrual items at home and school. National and international concerns about menstrual hygiene have been spearheaded through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs in schools and policy and programming frameworks to improve knowledge and infrastructure to manage menstrual hygiene.

About the project: 

The menstrual Hygiene Management(MHM) program started under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and is aimed at providing basic knowledge about menstruation and hygienic practices, to adolescent girls in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) schools.

The national guidelines of MHM as listed by UNICEF are as follows:

• To inculcate behavioral change among adolescent girls by educating them on hygienic practices to be followed during menstruation.
• To curb absenteeism of adolescent girls in schools.
• To create awareness about the scientific importance of menstruation.
• To condition the girls to learn and differentiate between myths and facts related to menstruation.

• Physiology of Menstruation
• Overcoming Period challenges and stigmas
• Menstrual hygiene practices
• All about absorbents
• Bursting the myths with science
• AdvocatingGood practices conversation with Gynecologist