Women in Red: On an Optimum Menstrual Hygiene Policy

Relevance: Women's Rights & Health, Social Issues, Gender, Government Policies and Interventions for Development, Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections, Menstrual Hygiene Policy, National Family Health Survey (NFHS)

Primary Source: The Hindu

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Why in the news?

Recently, the Supreme Court of India has directed the government to finalize an optimal menstrual hygiene policy, emphasizing the distribution of sanitary napkins and the need for adequate girls' toilets in schools.

Current Status of Menstrual Hygiene Policy in India

• Menstruation affects a significant portion of the female population, yet India has only recently begun to formulate a policy on menstrual hygiene.
• Despite over seventy years of independence, a formal policy on this issue is still in the developmental stage.
• The Supreme Court of India, recognizing the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, called for a uniform national policy to ensure menstrual hygiene for girls in schools.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has prepared a draft for the National Menstrual Hygiene Policy in 2023.
• This draft is open for comments from various stakeholders, indicating a collaborative approach to policy formulation

Menstrual Hygiene - Statistics and Trends

• As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) Data:
  • 73% of rural women use a hygienic method of menstrual protection.
  • 90% of urban women use a hygienic method of menstrual protection.
  • There's been a notable increase from NFHS4 to NFHS5 in the use of hygienic menstrual protection among women aged 15-24, increasing from 58% to 78%.
• Types of Hygienic Methods Used: The primary methods of menstrual protection mentioned are sanitary napkins, cloth, and locally prepared napkins.
• Link Between Education and Hygiene Preference: Women with 12 or more years of schooling are more than twice as likely to use a hygienic method compared to those with no schooling.
• Menstruation and Education: An established link between menstruation and dropping out of school is highlighted, attributed to stigma and lack of access to sanitation, including products, toilets, and water.

Challenges Related to Menstrual Hygiene in India

• Access and Affordability of Menstrual Hygiene Products: While urbanization has improved the availability of menstrual hygiene products for many young women, affordability remains a significant issue. This is particularly pronounced in semi-urban and rural areas.
• Educational Link: There's a direct correlation between education and the preference for hygienic menstrual practices. Women with higher levels of schooling are more likely to use hygienic methods compared to those with no education.
• School Dropout Rates: Menstruation is closely linked to school dropout rates among girls. This is attributed to the stigma surrounding menstruation and a lack of access to proper sanitation facilities, including access to menstrual hygiene products, toilets, and water.
• Policy and Implementation Gap: While the Indian government is working on a menstrual hygiene policy, it should be noted that policy creation is only a part of the solution. Effective implementation, ensuring access to affordable menstrual hygiene products, clean toilets, and water, is critical.
• Holistic Approach: The policy should address the entire lifecycle of menstruation, covering the range of health and social issues that arise from it.

Way Forward

• Ensuring Accessibility and Affordability: The policy must ensure that menstrual hygiene products, especially sanitary napkins, are affordable and accessible to all women, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas.
• Education and Awareness: Educational initiatives should be a core component of the policy, targeting both men and women to break the stigma around menstruation and educate them about hygienic practices.
• Infrastructure Development: There is a need for proper sanitation facilities, including clean toilets and access to water in schools and public places.
• Addressing Health and Social Implications: The policy should cover the entire menstrual health lifecycle, addressing health and social issues that arise from menstruation.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaboration with various stakeholders, including NGOs, healthcare professionals, and educational institutions, is vital for the successful implementation of the policy.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Regular monitoring and evaluation of the policy's implementation will be crucial to ensure its effectiveness and to make necessary adjustments based on feedback and evolving needs.
• Role of CSO: CSO can play an important role in spreading awareness about the issue and acting as a bridge between government and concerned sections of society.

Conclusion

A draft policy is under review with feedback from various stakeholders. The policy should address all aspects of menstruation, including health and social consequences. The government's role in not just policy formulation but also in ensuring practical implementation and accessibility.

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FAQs

MCQs

Question: Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana: (UPSC 2023)

1. It is a safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Question: Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy: (UPSC 2023)

1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women.
2. It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of childbirth.
3. It provides for periodic deworming to children and adolescents.
4. It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Question: As per the latest National Family Health Survey, what is the percentage of rural women using hygienic methods of menstrual protection?

(a) 58%

(b) 73%

(c) 90%

(d) 78%