Menstrual hygene is a very important issue when it comes to India. It is
useful to understand the huge difference between metropolitan cities and small
villages, because there the topic comes more difficult to deal with. In this
paper we are going to highlight some of the main taboos that matters in those
villages and how it is possible to improve the education about, in order to
prevent health illness.
First of all, it is relevant that our culture affects the way we live.
We cannot talk about hygiene problems and try to deal with them avoiding the
sociocultural background. For instance, in various cultures all over the world,
including India, the menarche is related to a rite of passage to the adulthood (and
if you carefully think about your own culture, you will find out that even boys
have some forms of passage rites). In Indian slums community and villages
menarche symbolised their possibility to became mothers but there are. Even
this, there are also so many taboos and try to resume theme in just one paper
could be impossible. For this reason, we are going to talk about the general
issues that taboos entail.
The difference between metropolitan cities and villages is reflected in
the way people are swayed by taboos.In cities the majority of girls and women
believe in some forms of superstition due to menstrual periods, even if they
are well educated and came from wealthy families. Outside of the cities is
where problems are highly significant. According to recent researches from the
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care only 36% girls
in the urban cities were using homemade sanitary pads and reused the same in
the subsequent period. In rural areas 54.88% girls do that.There are at least two factors to mention that
explain this behaviour in rural areas.
The first one is the lack of infrastructures and facilities. They live in minor villages; their economy is mainly
based on agriculture and so their lifestyle as well. The second one is their
belief system which is closely related to their traditions in those places. For
example, in West Bengal and in some southern states women have to live in a
separate place during their period. They are not allowed to meet other people
and they are exposed to the risk of being raped. Usually, women are not allowed
in kitchen and in the praying room. Women must be “purified” since they are
“impure”. In particular, what is the genesis of this belief? According to Janet
Chawlathere must be a Vedic origin
for these taboos related to Indra's
slaying of Vritras: it has been declared that guilty of killing a
brahmana-murder appears every month as menstrual flow since women had taken
upon themselves a part of Indra's guilt.
For these reasons, in some parts of India
menstruation blood is considered pollution. This belief could be matter of
danger for young girls above all. Lack of scientific knowledge concerning human
body and health conditions should never be a fault
and it not agreeable when it leads fear. Education about those topics could
allow young girls to follow their dreams. Also, understanding what a taboo is
should help them.
Since 2010 Heeals is strongly concerned in programmes with villages and
rural communities about Wash; Menstrual Hygene and Health. We belief that
education about health care is a priority and because of that we are always
working hard on our workshops and new programmes. Many contents have been
produced: films and documentaries (which are screened in national & international film festivals ) WASH & Menstrual Hygiene booklets,Games ,Short plays ; distribution of sanitary pads and soaps about every month ,WASH & Education materials .
-Nancy
WASH Inter
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