UNFPA claimed that an additional 13 million girls could be married off and two million more could undergo FGM in the next decade, beyond what would be normally expected.
The coronavirus crisis could push millions of more girls into child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), the United Nations said.
“The pandemic both makes our job harder and more urgent as so many more girls are now at risk,” said Natalia Kanem, head of the United Nations’ sexual and reproductive health agency, United Nations Population Fund.
UNFPA claimed that an additional 13 million girls could be married off and two million more could undergo FGM in the next decade, beyond what would be normally expected.
Further, the crisis may push several into poverty, prompting parents to get their daughters married early.
Talking about FGM, Kanem said: “When so many girls and women are unwanted, cut, erased, given, traded and sold, our common future is undermined. We should all be outraged.
” Practices including violent sexual initiation rites, witchcraft accusations, branding, dowry-related violence, force-feeding and body modifications such as neck-elongation are rampant in India.
The report further said that 3,000 girls each day, are forced to marry young to older men. An estimated 4.1 million are at risk of FGM this year.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) female genital mutilation are procedures “that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” The procedures are usually performed between infancy and the age of 15.
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Lack of education about menstruation is one of the drawbacks to achieving adequate menstrual hygiene worldwide. Schools offer an important chance to transform menstrual hygiene programs that will benefit young girls in the future.
According to the research, India is home to about 113 million young girls and around 54% of these girls are unaware of menstruation before they have their first period. Around 77% of people aren’t aware that the uterus is the source of the bleeding and only 45% consider that menstruation is normal and a vast majority of people observe religious, socio-cultural and food taboos during their menstruation. In 2015-16, the latest National Family Health Survey 4, India’s DHS reported that about 42.4% of young women, aged between 15 and 24 are still using unhygienic protection methods during their period.
Learn how inclusive menstrual health education in India can improve this situation!
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Lack of education about menstruation is one of the drawbacks to achieving adequate menstrual hygiene worldwide. Schools offer an important chance to transform menstrual hygiene programs that will benefit young girls in the future.
According to the research, India is home to about 113 million young girls and around 54% of these girls are unaware of menstruation before they have their first period. Around 77% of people aren’t aware that the uterus is the source of the bleeding and only 45% consider that menstruation is normal and a vast majority of people observe religious, socio-cultural and food taboos during their menstruation. In total 70% of mothers consider menstruation to be polluting and dirty and around 63 million girls live in homes which lack bathroom facilities.
Research from 2011 also suggested that in the country 88% of women and girls were using unhygienic, unsafe menstrual absorbents. Later, some progress was seen.
In 2015-16, the latest National Family Health Survey 4, India’s DHS reported that about 42.4% of young women, aged between 15 and 24 are still using unhygienic protection methods during their period.
Lack of education leads to stigma
We can see a bright future for menstrual health education for all genders, but in the previous years when it wasn’t a priority, the adults needed to know about menstrual health later in their life.
Monica Karpinski, founder and editor of The Femedic stated “I know from my world and my research that there is a huge education gap around menstruation. Menstruation is the second most popular category on our site behind sexual health. You can see a real appetite for information which communicates that education is not there to fill that gap.”
This education gap can have contagion effects. Lack of education on menstruation health and hygiene is an important foundation that will maintain the stigma around periods and it will affect a certain group of population. Premenstrual stress is also a domain around periods in which women faced stigma. The health and education of young people who menstruate can also get impacted by facing shame-inducing stigma. Period poverty can also add difficulties and hamper the lives and education of people menstruating.
Mae Matauka, a founder of the Mino Period and a trustee of The Vagina Museum stated, “It is important to remember that period poverty is not confined to just access to menstrual products. It also includes having poor knowledge of menstruation. This goes to have a more open and frank conversation about menstruation and more information and resources that will help tackle the taboo, stigma and shame.”
If lack of education feeds stigma, you need to increase education around menstrual health and hygiene. Along with girls, including boys in these topics from a young age is great for creating a society free from period stigma and this will also improve scientific knowledge of how the body works.
Kapinski agreed that teaching about menstrual health among all genders is important. She said, “Ideally, if this was being taught in school, you’d teach it in an inclusive way, so it wouldn’t be about genders, it would be about ‘this is what happens in this body part.”
Making clear, accessible menstrual health education is an important key to tackling period stigma, which is an obstacle to gender equality, improving lives and building knowledge.
A vital chance to improve Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)
Schools play a crucial role to address MHM comprehensively. So what about young girls and MHM in Indian schools?
A systematic review on MHM in India stated that an estimated 60% of young girls are enrolled in about 1.4 million schools. Around 24% of school girls didn’t attend their school during periods and only 37% of girls changed their absorbents in school.
Schools can be vehicles for the girl to change but they also serve to continue discrimination and stigma regarding menstruation.
Modules for teachers and peer educators must be developed in school that will provide comprehensive information and essentials on menstruation and MHM.
Safe, hygienic and functional toilets and separate toilets for girls
Water in toilet units for girls to wash their parts and menstrual absorbents
Provisions in toilet unit to hang and store belongings such as shelves and hooks
Proper dustbin for safe disposal of menstrual waste
Private and safe changing room or space
Soaps or liquids to wash hands
Through special programs, we can address detrimental social norms, provide girls education on menstrual health and hygiene, and access to a vast range of safe and hygienic menstrual absorbents and options for treatment of menstrual waste and safe disposal. Reach out to girls who are enrolled but do not attend schools or discontinue their education due to lack of knowledge and transform the menstrual health and hygiene landscape in India for a better tomorrow.
This #MenstrualHygieneDay, #Infano along with #TheLogicalIndian, is addressing nuanced conversations on period centering on the well being of the menstruators as they power through every day. Share your thoughts about inclusive menstrual health education in the comments because your views can trigger an important aspect that we all need to know and talk about! #IBleedMyWay #MHD2022
A 'non-9-5 desk job' ambivert geek who chooses her own audience, Sonali loves sharing stories and finding the corners where humanity still exists! She believes that every individual's story is unique and special. She loves writing about the untouched and unspoken segments of society. When not writing, you can find her listening to someone's stories or playing with dogs. Sonali values mental health and encourages people to speak their heart out!
