Click on the link to view all contents

Menstrual Hygiene
Reading Material for ASHA

Contents

I. Background   3

II. Objecti􏰀ves of the Training   4

III. About Mensturati􏰀on  4

IV. What are the Problems that a Girl may Encounter During Menstruat􏰀ion?   6

V. Menstrual Hygiene, Use and Disposal of Sanitary Napkins  7

VI. Key activities to Promote Menstrual Hygiene   10

I. Background

Why a programme on Menstrual Hygiene?

Good menstrual hygiene is essen􏰀al for the health and dignity of girls and women. Discussions on menstrual hygiene are important for adolescent girls to clarify exis􏰀ng myths and misconcep􏰀ons around menstrua􏰀on. Improving menstrual hygiene is important from the point of view of personal comfort and increased mobility. It also reduces the likelihood of infec􏰀ons resul􏰀ng from poor hygiene prac􏰀ces during menstrua􏰀on. Providing girls with knowledge and skills on maintaining menstrual hygiene improves school a􏰁endance among girls, who otherwise may not a􏰁end school during those days or even drop out of school altogether.

How to promote Menstrual Hygiene?

Promo􏰀ting menstrual hygiene is achieved through:

• Provision of health education to girls and women on menstruation and menstrual hygiene

• 􏰃Increasing community ac􏰀onto improve access to clean toilets with water, both at home and in schools

• 􏰃Promoti􏰀ng the availability and use of sanitary products

• 􏰃Enabling safe disposal of sanitary products

  Who can promote Menstrual Hygiene?

  Menstrual Hygiene can be promoted in the community and in schools. It is best to start with adolescent girls; although, other women in the reproducti􏰀ve age group would also benefit from the informati􏰀on and access to sanitary products. ASHA, the Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), and the members of women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) can make a substan􏰀al difference to menstrual hygiene prac􏰀ces in the community.

  As an ASHA, you already have the advantage of being in close contact with women in the community. This will be helpful in providing informa􏰀tion on menstrual hygiene and sanitary products contained in this booklet to adolescent girls and women in the community. As a member of the Village Health and Sanitati􏰀on Commi􏰁tee (VHSC) and in working with members of the Panchayat, you can promote toilets in homes, and ensure separate toilets for girls in local schools. Members of women’s SHGs can support and assist you in encouraging menstrual hygiene and promoti􏰀ng the use of sanitary napkins in the community. Sanitary napkins can be made locally by SHGs using a simple technology. You can encourage the groups in your village to take up this ac􏰀tivity. Further informa􏰀on is available in the offices of the District Health Society and the District Collector.

II. Objec􏰀tives of the Training

At the end of the training you will learn the following:

1. The basic elements of menstruation and menstrual hygiene

2. Proper use and safe disposal of sanitary napkins

3. How to communicate the benefits of sanitary napkins and mo􏰀tivate girls in the use of sanitary napkins

4. Ensuring a regular supply of sanitary napkins in your community

5. Recording and reporti􏰀ng the uptake of sanitary napkins