‘Lack of affordability, accessibility and awareness are three prime reasons’
Despite government’s campaigns and schemes to ensure girls education, little has been done so far to address one of the major issues leading to their dropout post primary classes — lack of access to sanitary napkins.
Only 57 per cent of young women in the country have access to hygienic methods of protection during menstruation periods so far, reveals the National Family Health Survey-4 held by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 2015-16.
Hygienic medium includes commercial sanitary napkins and locally prepared sanitary napkins and Unhygienic medium includes use of clothes, paper, sand etc. Lack of access to hygienic methods not only leads to reproductive tract infections but pushes a large number of menstruating girls across India skipping schools in those days or dropping out permanently.
The methods of menstrual protection has been included in the NFHS for the first time. Findings are part of “women empowerment” indicator. Girls aged 15-24 were included in the study which was held from January 2015 to December 2016 for various indicators.
The survey not only reveals a huge rural-urban divide with only 48 per cent rural girls having access to napkins compared to 77 per cent of their urban counterparts, but also a huge imbalance across the states.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, National Capital Region Delhi are far ahead from all other states with over 90 per cent of their young women population having access to sanitary napkins. In Sikkim its 86 per cent and in Punjab 84 per cent. In Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh two-third young women have access to hygienic methods. Only 30 per cent women in Bihar, 47 per cent in UP and 55 per cent in Bengal and Rajasthan have access to hygienic methods.
“Lack of affordability, accessibility and awareness are three prime reasons which deter women from using hygienic protection”, says Prof Faujdar Ram, social scientist and former director of International Institute of Population Science, Mumbai.
Why May 28?
Menstrual hygiene day was initiated by the German NGO WASH United in 2014 which aims to break taboos and raise awareness about the issue. May 28 was chosen since May is the 5th month of the year and most women average 5 days every month and their cycle is approximately 28 days.
