Innovations in products are happening, such as menstrual cups, menstrual discs, etc. Filmmakers like R. Balki (who made “Padman”) have also changed the setup model to an extent. great.
However, there is still a significant proportion of women who are prejudiced about menstruation.
Unfortunately, society identifies women as the other half, but only for specific, binding duties in the home, highlighting biological differences as a sign of inferiority. Menstruation and its debilitating nature, although a fact, is often covered up. Menstrual Hygiene Day helps to overcome these taboos for a healthy life.
Prejudice
Thousands of women and girls are stigmatized, shunned and discriminated against just because they have their periods. According to a survey, taboos such as not touching sour foods, not working, exercising, not entering the kitchen or touching common utensils and eating utensils, not washing hair, Do not have sex during menstruation, do not touch plants. , and others are still popular.
Even now, in 2022, women are instructed to isolate themselves during their periods instead of treating them as normal.
Furthermore, when they get their first period, most girls are allowed to dry out, even though they don’t know what their bodies are going through. This is especially true in rural and remote areas.
In many parts of India, girls are forbidden to study, earn a living and participate fully and equally in daily life simply because they start menstruating.
Raising awareness of periodic proper hygiene is a need
It is important to raise awareness about menstruation and related subjects so that it is seen as ‘normal’ and not something to be ashamed of or concealed. When a girl starts menstruating, she is still quite young.
Menstruation is hard to deal with anywhere, but especially difficult in India. The majority of young girls in the country are not taught why they bleed for almost a week every month or how to safely and hygienically handle their periods when they are children.
To overcome these problems, girls need the right education and awareness to make them mentally and physically ready. The current scenario calls for a faster approach to information dissemination and social evolution.
Frequent use of dirty or used towels during menstruation can cause reproductive system infections such as bacterial vaginosis or urinary tract infection (UTI), which can progress to a pelvic infection.
Because these infections can spread to the pelvis, they can make it difficult to conceive or cause pregnancy problems like preterm labor (resulting in premature delivery).
Poor hygiene is one of the risk factors for cervical cancer, and poor hygiene can increase the risk of cervical cancer in the long run.
The use of cloth tampons must begin in elementary school. Girls in rural areas should be given tampons to encourage them to use them instead of cloth.
Girls should be educated in maintaining the highest level of hygiene during menstruation. That’s because the pad absorbs more blood, sweat, and sebum as menstrual flow is stronger during the day when you’re active.
This creates an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, which is why you shouldn’t wear a pad for more than four hours a day.
Since blood is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria during your monthly cycle, you should wash your vaginal area at least twice a day.
Vaginal organs are capable of self-cleaning. It is important to preserve the natural flora of the environment, and using ordinary soap or even specific cosmetic items for intimate hygiene can harm it. Ideally, the vaginal area should be washed with warm, soap-free water.
Lack of access to high-quality hygiene products is a major obstacle to achieving 100% menstrual hygiene coverage in India.
In India, a major obstacle to achieving 100% menstrual hygiene coverage is the lack of access to high-quality hygiene products.
According to research, the majority of girls do not have consistent access to high-quality menstrual hygiene products, with 88% of women and girls in India relying on improvised alternatives. such as old clothes, rags, hay, sand or ashes. Furthermore, women and girls do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities.
According to research, about 40% of female students miss school during their period. The type of absorbent material used, the lack of privacy at school, the restrictions imposed on girls during menstruation, the mother’s education and the source of menstrual information are all thought to be important factors. lead to school absences.
Nearly 65% said it had an effect on their daily activities at school and they had to skip tests and lessons in class as a result of discomfort, anxiety, shame and worry about leakage and discoloration of uniforms.
While access to menstrual products is important, attention should also be paid to the emotional trauma that girls experience during menstruation.
Girls should receive comprehensive counseling about menstruation and other related issues. Efforts should be made to dispel the myths and shame associated with the period.
Source: IANS
