Unveiling the Hidden Struggles: Tiruvallur Schools Expose Deep-Rooted Menstrual Stigma Affecting Children

Adolescence marks a pivotal phase fraught with changes and challenges, particularly for girls navigating the complexities of menstruation. Often stigmatized and treated as a taboo, menstruation hinders access to crucial information and support during this significant life stage. In light of these challenges, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Sanitation First, in partnership with the Tiruvallur district government in Tamil Nadu, recently launched a baseline study aimed at uncovering the stigma surrounding menstruation and the barriers girls face in obtaining menstrual products and information.

The study surveyed 118 schools across ten blocks in Tiruvallur, gathering insights from 118 headmasters and teachers, alongside 1,133 eighth-grade girls and 413 boys. The findings disclosed troubling attitudes and beliefs about menstruation among young students. Alarmingly, 43% of boys believed girls should not enter kitchens while menstruating, while 58% felt they should avoid religious places during their periods. Moreover, 70% of boys viewed menstruation as a disabling condition for girls – a notion echoed by 40% of the girls surveyed. Furthermore, 77% of girls also believed that menstruating peers should stay away from religious spaces. “These results highlight the entrenched stigma surrounding menstruation in the community,” noted Averi Chakrabarti, an economist with AIR’s International Development Division. She emphasized that such beliefs stem from long-standing societal norms and reiterated the importance of providing accurate information to counteract misinformation.

The study also illuminated a lesser-discussed issue: heavy menstrual bleeding. Alarmingly, 15% of the girls reported missing school due to this condition, which is often overlooked in conversations about menstrual health. Chakrabarti stressed the need to investigate various factors behind this absenteeism, including the duration of menstruation, the frequency of changing pads, and access to menstrual products.

In response to these findings, Sanitation First is set to expand its ‘Happy Periods’ program, which has been active in Tamil Nadu since 2019, into 56 schools across the district. Aimed at educating students about the physical, mental, and emotional changes of puberty, the curriculum will cover topics such as the male and female reproductive systems and the onset of menstruation (menarche) and ejaculation (semenarche). “We strive to normalize the experiences of adolescence for both boys and girls by providing science-based information to empower them in making informed decisions regarding menstrual practices and to promote gender-sensitive behavior,” stated Padmapriya T.S., chief executive of Sanitation First.

Following the implementation of the Happy Periods program, AIR will conduct an endline survey to assess its effectiveness, comparing a treatment group of participating schools to a control group for robust analysis. Chakrabarti highlighted the study’s econometric approach, which aims to derive meaningful conclusions from the comparative data.

An intriguing revelation from the baseline study was the perception regarding who should lead menstrual health education. A striking 95% of teachers and school leaders believed mothers ought to be the primary source of this information. M. Prathap, district collector of Thiruvallur, underscored the need for teachers to play a supportive role. “Teachers often hesitate to address these topics among boys. This initiative will equip them with the necessary training to guide students effectively. Each school will appoint a nodal teacher to sustain this education,” he stated, emphasizing the program’s goal of creating a scalable framework for broader implementation.

Additionally, the survey revealed unsafe disposal practices concerning menstrual products. A concerning 72% of surveyed girls reported burning single-use plastic menstrual items, with only 3% opting to bury them. These disposal methods were particularly common in the Thiruvalangadu and Tiruttani areas. “This issue will be revisited in the endline survey to evaluate progress and identify potential solutions,” concluded Chakrabarti.

Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/study-in-tns-tiruvallur-schools-reveals-deep-rooted-menstrual-stigma-in-children/article69716426.ece
Category : Health
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Publish Date: 2025-06-21 07:00:00