Kathmandu: A report ‘Status of Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management among Adolescent Girls of Nepal’ states that adolescent girls in Nepal have inadequate knowledge on menstruation.
The report by World Vision International Nepal and Nepal Health Research Council points out that one-quarter are unaware of menstruation before menarche and one-half are unaware of the link between menstruation and fertility.
Nearly three quarter (71.7 percent) of adolescents had known about menstruation before menarche, with 28.3 percent still unaware about menstruation before experiencing it, reads the report.
The study found out that only half of the adolescent girls from Province 2 and Sudurpaschim were aware before menarche.
Similarly, in-depth interviews and group discussions during the research revealed that the girls had ‘limited knowledge and information on preparedness aspects of menstruation.
50 pc unaware of the linkage between pregnancy and menstruation
Likewise, another concerning side the study found was that 50% of participants were unaware of the linkage between pregnancy and menstruation.
The study found out that only half of the adolescent girls from Province 2 and Sudurpaschim were aware before menarche.
Abhilasha Gurung, Health and Nutrition Advisor for World Vision International Nepal says, “The main reason behind girls’ inadequate knowledge about menstruation is their education and teachers’ negligence towards the chapters related to it.”
“Although the girls go to school, they don’t get proper knowledge about reproductive health from the teachers, those teachers do not take the contents of reproductive health seriously and they skip the whole lesson”, said Gurung.
The report which conducted a national survey among 3,495 adolescent girls researched various aspects of the status of menstruation health in Nepal.
Girls with disabilities bear the brunt in lack of disable friendly infrastructure
This study also documented the experience of girls with disabilities. Their major challenges were lacking access to disposable sanitary materials, difficulties in disposal mechanisms, reliance on immediate female family members for changing sanitary material, reliance on female family members to oblige Chaupadi (the practice of isolating women during their menstruation period ), and also an absence of disable friendly WASH facilities outside home resulting in them staying home during menstruation.
Girls with disabilities have to face a lot of hurdles during their menstruation due to a lack of disabled-friendly infrastructure.
Gurung urges the concerned authority to build disable friendly infrastructure as soon as possible.
Chaupadi still followed by 8.7 percent of girls
The study also reports about the practice of Chaupadi. As per the study, although the Chaupadi is an illegal practice, it is still followed by 8.7 percent of adolescent girls. The practice is observed only in three provinces— Lumbini (0.9 percent), Karnali (20.5 percent), and Sudurpaschim (47.7 percent).
Girls with disabilities have to face a lot of hurdles during their menstruation due to a lack of disabled-friendly infrastructure.
As per Gurung, the major reasons behind the practice are family obligation, religious belief, and lack of education.
Likewise, she also suggests the concerned body conduct various awareness programs and campaigns in order to control the practice.
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