<i>Chhaupadi</i>Culture and Reproductive Health of Women in Nepal

Ranabhat, Chhabi; Kim, Chun-Bae; Choi, Eun Hee; Aryal, Anu; Park, Myung-Bae; Doh, Young Ah

doi:10.1177/1010539515602743

Cited by 107 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…There are Asian studies which show that attitudes towards menstruation could be affected by cultural beliefs. 27,28 Over the past decade there has been paradigm shift in the field of population studies, moving from relatively singular focus on family planning to a broader focus on reproductive health. Menstrual problems are generally perceived as minor health problems and irrelevant to the public health agenda.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Menstrual disorders and treatment seeking behaviour of adolescents

Rahatgaonkar

Wakankar

Oka

et al. 2018

Int J Community Med Public Health

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Background: Menstrual abnormalities are a major gynaecological problem faced by adolescent girls leading to morbidity that may have an adverse effect on their school attendance. The objective of the study was to determine prevalence of menstrual disorders in girls aged 10-19 years and to study their treatment-seeking behaviour. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 592 girls in the age group of 10 to 19 years attending schools in Pune city during January 2016 to December 2016. Permission was sought from school authorities. Girls 10-17 years were included after obtaining parental consent. For 18 and 19 year olds, informed consent was taken from the girls themselves. Demographic information, height, weight and characteristics of menstrual period were noted. Results: Majority girls (36%) were in age group 12.1-14 years. Most prevalent menstrual disorder was painful menses reported by 70% of girls, followed by heavy menstrual bleeding (46%) and cycle irregularity (22%). All menstrual disorders were most commonly prevalent in the age group of 14.1 to 16 years. Proportion of girls visiting a doctor and taking medications for painful menses was 26.7% and 16.5% respectively, for heavy menstrual bleeding was 25.7% and 16.5% respectively and for cycle irregularity was 33% and 16.5% respectively. No association was found between mother's education and treatment seeking behaviour for menstrual disorders. Conclusions: In spite of high prevalence of menstrual disorders, only a minority of the adolescents seek expert advice. This underscores the need for creating awareness among girls, mothers and teachers and developing a screening tool to identify girls who could benefit by further investigation and follow-up.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Menstrual disorders and treatment seeking behaviour of adolescents

Rahatgaonkar

Wakankar

Oka

et al. 2018

Int J Community Med Public Health

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“…Menarche is therefore often marked by a period of seclusion from the family. In some families in the west and far-west of Nepal, a form of this seclusion is practiced every time a woman menstruates through the practice of chhaupadi (L. Joshi, 2015;Ranabhat et al, 2015). While practicing chhaupadi, women must sleep in a hut (chhau goth) away from the family home in order to prevent ritual pollution.…”

Section: Menstrual Management In Nepalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Girls’ Menstrual Management in Five Districts of Nepal: Implications for Policy and Practice

Morrison

Basnet

Bhatt³

et al. 2018

SSJ

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Discriminatory practices related to menstruation affect the social, mental and physical wellbeing of girls in many low-and middle-income countries. We conducted mixed methods research in five districts of Nepal to explore how menstruation affected girls’ ability to fully participate in school and community life. We conducted 860 structured interviews, 26 group interviews and 10 focus group discussions with schoolgirls in rural areas,14 semi-structured interviews with girls’ mothers, and 10 interviews with health teachers. Girls in all districts experienced social, material and information barriers to confident menstrual management. Menstrual blood was believed to carry diseases, and girls’ movement was restricted to contain ritual pollution and protect them from illness, spirit possession, and sexual experiences. Taboos prevented girls from worshipping in temples or in their home, and some girls were not allowed to enter the kitchen, or sleep in their home while menstruating. Teachers and parents felt unprepared to answer questions about menstruation and focused on the maintenance of restrictions. Teachers and students were embarrassed discussing menstruation in school and classes were not question-driven or skills-based. Gender disaggregated teaching of menstruation and engagement of health facility staff may have positive effects. Community participatory approaches that engage girls, their families and the wider community are necessary to address harmful cultural practices. Cross-sectoral approaches to provide clean, private, safe spaces for girls and increased availability of preferred materials could enable confident menstrual management.

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“…This discrimination of untouchability varies among ethnic groups, cultures and communities 6. The most extreme example practised in rural western Nepal is isolating women and girls in rudimentary huts outside their homes, considering them untouchable until the seventh day of their menses (an outlawed practice known as Chhaupadi) 7.…”

Section: Menstruation As a Taboomentioning

confidence: 99%

Reusable sanitary towels: promoting menstrual hygiene in post-earthquake Nepal

Budhathoki

Bhattachan

Pokharel

et al. 2016

J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care

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Abstract:It is a normal human tendency to run for their life when an earthquake occurs. Adolescent girls and reproductive age women leave their homes with only the clothes they had on trying to save their own and their families' lives. Immediate disaster relief aid with its (unintentional) lack of gender sensitivity has little or no materials for the appropriate management of menstrual hygiene.The biological needs will not change for these women despite the dire need for basic food, shelter and security. Timely identification and preparation beforehand for appropriate and culturally sensitive techniques and locally available materials that are reusable can help introduce sustainable and acceptable means of management of menstrual hygiene in crisis. The use of reusable sanitary towels is well accepted for menstrual hygiene management in non-disaster situations and is appropriate in post-earthquake relief in Nepal.

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ChhaupadiCulture and Reproductive Health of Women in Nepal

Cited by 107 publications

References 22 publications

Menstrual disorders and treatment seeking behaviour of adolescents

Menstrual disorders and treatment seeking behaviour of adolescents

Girls’ Menstrual Management in Five Districts of Nepal: Implications for Policy and Practice

Reusable sanitary towels: promoting menstrual hygiene in post-earthquake Nepal

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