Breaking Menstrual Health Stigma
Challenge:
In Nepal, deeply rooted social norms and stigma surrounding menstruation perpetuate silence and shame, leaving many adolescent girls and menstruators uninformed about managing their periods safely and hygienically. This lack of access to information exacerbates reproductive health risks and undermines girls’ dignity. Additionally, disposable sanitary pads are often prohibitively expensive for many families in marginalized communities forcing menstruators to use substandard practices that can lead to infections and other health issues.
Action:
The USAID Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) project conducted menstrual hygiene training for 1140 girls aged 15 to 19 across 60 project municipalities. The training taught girls to make reusable sanitary pads using materials found locally, enabling them to make their own menstrual hygiene products and offer a sustainable and cost-effective option to maintaining good menstrual health and hygiene in their communities. In addition to gaining pad-making skills, the training empowered girls to challenge myths and social norms and break the silence and stigma surrounding menstruation by fostering a culture of open dialogue.
Results:
- 1140 girls from marginalized community learned to create reusable sanitary pads, empowering them to manage menstrual health independently and fostering self-reliance through sustainable solutions.
- The sessions catalyzed a shift in attitudes towards menstruation, with girls actively engaging in conversations about menstrual health, thereby challenging and dispelling deep-rooted stigma and misconceptions in their communities.
- The training sessions were organized in close coordination with local government entities, particularly municipal women and development units. Recognizing the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, local governments have committed to allocating budgets to organize more of such training. For instance, one municipality in Lumbini has already allocated funds and requested USAID ARH for technical support to conduct additional training sessions. The local government’s engagement and support will expand our efforts to empower girls and challenge menstrual health stigma.
Outcomes/Impact:
This initiative has led to notable changes in behavior and perspectives on menstrual health and hygiene practices among girls and their communities. The girls are sharing their pad making skills with their mothers, sisters and sisters-in-law. In addition to starting to openly talk about food and mobility restrictions associated with menstruation. However, there remains a need for continuous action. USAID ARH will continue to support these empowered adolescent girls in their advocacy campaigns, ensuring the continuation of menstrual health practices that uphold dignity, strengthen confidence, and promote healthy reproductive behaviors among all adolescents.