Chaupadi: The affliction of menses in Nepal

Robinson, Hannah

doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.10.002

Cited by 21 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…There have been multiple reports of women developing reproductive tract infections (RTIs), abnormal vaginal discharge and other health conditions due to poor menstrual hygiene practices in countries like India, Nepal and Bangladesh [7][8][9][10][11]. However, not much has changed over the years; sociocultural beliefs regarding menstruation are so deeply ingrained in some societies in Nepal that women believe themselves to be impure, they feel embarrassed of their natural bodily function and are fearful of being blamed/ bringing bad fortune if they do not strictly follow the menstrual restrictions imposed on them by the society [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chhaupadi, a complex socio-cultural tradition in remote areas of Nepal, is deeply-rooted in religious beliefs and social hierarchies. In a country where more than 80% of the population practices Hinduism, ritualistic purity is a basic tenet [3,12]. This patriarchal Hindu tradition of Chhaupadi considers menstruating women to be impure; imposes multiple socio-cultural restrictions including ostracizing women from their home during menstruation, impeding their access to proper sanitation facilities, menstrual hygiene, healthcare and even clean water [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Perception and practices of menstruation restrictions among urban adolescent girls and women in Nepal: a cross-sectional survey

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Menstruation, a natural biologic process is associated with restrictions and superstitious beliefs in Nepal. However, factual data on women's perspectives on menstrual practices and restrictions are scarce. This study aimed to assess socio-cultural perceptions of menstrual restrictions among urban Nepalese women in the Kathmandu valley. Methods: Using a clustered random sampling, 1342 adolescent girls and women of menstruating age (≥15 years) from three urban districts in the Kathmandu valley completed a survey related to menstrual practices and restriction. This was a cross-sectional survey study using a customized program allowing pull-down, multiple choice and open-ended questions in the Nepali language. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of 13 demographic questions and 22 questions related to menstruation, menstrual hygiene, socio-cultural taboos, beliefs and practices. Univariate descriptive statistics were reported. Unadjusted associations of socio-cultural practices with ethnicity, education, four major social classes, three major religions, marital status and family type were assessed using logistic regression models. Results: More than half (59%) of the participants were aged between 15-< 25 years. The majority were Hindus (84.5%), reported not praying during menstruation (83.1%) and were encouraged by their mothers (72.1%) to practice a range of menstrual restrictions. Purifying either the kitchen, bed, bedsheets or other household things on the fourth day of menstruation was reported by 66.1% of the participants, and 45.4% saw menstruation as a "bother" or "curse." There were differences among social classes, where participants of the Janajati caste, an indigenous group, were more likely to enter places of worship [OR (95%CI): 1.74 (1.06-2.86)] and pray [OR (95%CI): 1.79 (1.18-2.71)] while menstruating, compared to the Brahmins. Participants with a master's degree were more likely to pray while menstruating, compared to participants with less than a high school education [OR (95%CI): 2.83 (1.61-4.96)].

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perception and practices of menstruation restrictions among urban adolescent girls and women in Nepal: a cross-sectional survey

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In some contexts, there may be cultural practices restricting access to water or comfortable environments to manage vaginal bleeding, such as in Nepal where menstruating and postpartum girls and women are confined to sleeping in a cowshed or hut. 39 In some cultures, menstruating girls and women are prohibited from touching water sources or using sanitation facilities given the association of menstruation with impurity. 40 This may have implications for the ability to hygienically manage other vaginal bleeding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond menstrual hygiene: addressing vaginal bleeding throughout the life course in low and middle-income countries

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Girls and women experience numerous types of vaginal bleeding. These include healthy reproductive processes, such as menstruation and bleeding after childbirth, but also bleeding related to health conditions, such as fibroids or cancer. In most societies, the management of menstruation is handled covertly, something girls are often instructed about at menarche. The management of other vaginal bleeding is often similarly discreet, although behaviours are not well documented. In many societies, cultural taboos frequently hinder open discussion around vaginal bleeding, restricting information and early access to healthcare. Additionally, the limited availability of clean, accessible water and sanitation facilities in many low and middle-income countries augments the challenges girls and women face in conducting daily activities while managing vaginal bleeding, including participating in school or work, going to the market or fetching water. This paper aims to highlight the key vaginal bleeding experiences throughout a woman’s life course and the intersection of these bleeding experiences with their access to adequate water and sanitation facilities, information and education sources, and supplies. The aim is to address the silence around girls and women’s vaginal bleeding and their related social, physical and clinical management needs across the life course; and highlight critical gaps that require attention in research, practice and policy around this neglected topic of health and gender equality.

show abstract

“…Hence, it was found that various mothers groups were advocating for elimination of Chaupadi from their locality. The Nepal Supreme Court banned Chaupadi in 2005 [16] but government regulation does not reach remote western regions [6]. According to a UN report in 2011, within the district of Accham, 95% of women were practicing Chaupadi [17].Girls practicing Chaupadi will stop attending school every month during this time of personal isolation, therefore sustaining the inequality in education and the stigma surrounding periods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(1) It is a traditional practice in which females are forbidden to touch anything and are forced to live in isolation (shed) during menstruation [5].In some areas, women are expected to sleep outside in a tiny hut called a goth until they are clean again. This custom is called chaupadi, derived from two Hindu words: chau, meaning menstruation, and padi, meaning women [6]. Women often lacks knowledge regarding menstruation and good hygiene practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chaupadi during menstruation still a major community health challenge: perspective from Mid-Western Nepal

Parajuli

Mishra

et al. 2018

BIBECHANA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: Menstruation, a normal physiological process in reproductive life of female still has many misconceptions. Knowledge of menstrual hygiene and menstrual sanitation practices affects the health of female. Lack of awareness on menstrual care practice is a challenge for community health. Objective: The objective of this study was to find knowledge and practice on menstrual hygiene; and perspective of Chaupadi (menstrual shed) among the reproductive age group female. Methodology: A community based mixed method study having cross sectional study as quantitative domain and phenomenological study as qualitative domain was conducted in Maranthana community of Pyuthan district of mid-western Nepal from April 2016-September 2016. Using convenient sampling techniques, 109 participants were included for cross sectional study and five of them who experienced Chaupadi were enrolled for phenomenological study. One eligible participant form each household was taken after getting informed voluntary consent. Collected data was entered in Microsoft excel and analysed by SPSS and NVivo software. Results: Regarding knowledge, 73.7% were aware on the right age of menarche. Almost 93% were aware on possible pregnancy after initiation of menstruation. Many of them (34.9%) were informed on menstruation by friends. Almost half (45.9%) had negative belief of use of old clean cloth during menstrual flow. Regarding practice, only 40.4% used sanitary pad during their menstrual flow. Most (65.1%) of them did not dispose,16.5% bury in nearby ground and 18.4% burn. More than half (60.6%) used soap-water to clean genitalia. Remedial measures adopted during menstruation were taking adequate rest (44%), seeking medical advice (22.9%) and drinking plenty of fluid (13.8%). Different traditional practice followed were use of separate utensils (64.2%), not allowed to see sun (75.8%), restriction to- go outside (71.6%), cook food (56%), usual food intake (56.9%), worship (74.3%), eat with others (27.5%), sleep in usual bedroom (27.5%) and touch male members (28.4%). Most (94.5%) of them experienced Chaupadi (Menstrual Shed) during their menarche. The phenomenological approach found that Chaupadi was common. They had various infections and ill health. Mother groups were advocating to eliminate Chaupadi in their locality. Conclusion: The know-do gap on menstruation was evident. Despite increasing awareness, people were still following traditional cultural practices. BIBECHANA 16 (2019) 228-235

show abstract

Chaupadi: The affliction of menses in Nepal

Cited by 21 publications

References 1 publication

Perception and practices of menstruation restrictions among urban adolescent girls and women in Nepal: a cross-sectional survey

Perception and practices of menstruation restrictions among urban adolescent girls and women in Nepal: a cross-sectional survey

Beyond menstrual hygiene: addressing vaginal bleeding throughout the life course in low and middle-income countries

Chaupadi during menstruation still a major community health challenge: perspective from Mid-Western Nepal

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About