Menstrual hygiene: a ‘silent’ need during disaster recovery

After washing, the women and girls dried the cloth inside their homes in dark corners, instead of drying in the open, to prevent others from seeing or accidentally touching them.

“After washing, the women and girls dried the cloth inside their homes in dark corners, instead of drying in the open, to prevent others from seeing or accidentally touching them.”

In the fishing households located in remote villages in Odisha, access to markets in the main towns was a challenge.

“The research found that in the fishing households, located in remote villages, the access to markets in the main towns was a challenge.”

Menstrual hygiene requirements, especially of girls, young women, and single-women headed households, were often overlooked.

“Menstrual hygiene requirements, especially of the girls, young women, and single-women headed households, were often overlooked.”

In Assam, all female participants reported that menstrual hygiene was overlooked while preparing rescue kits.

“All the female participants reported that menstrual hygiene was overlooked while preparing these kits.”

The formation of separate adolescent girls' committees as well as school committees for water, sanitation, and personal hygiene provided a space to impart knowledge on menstrual hygiene to young girls and adolescents post-disasters.

“The formation of separate adolescent girls' committees as well as school committees for water, sanitation, and personal hygiene provided a space to impart knowledge on menstrual hygiene to young girls and adolescents post-disasters.”

In Assam, at least 50 per cent of participants reported that it was difficult to follow the general practice of using a separate soap or detergent powder to wash their menstrual linen post-floods.

“The general practice was to use a separate soap or detergent powder to wash their menstrual linen, which was difficult to follow post-floods, as reported by at least 50 per cent of the participants.”

The humanitarian response in Assam incorporated MHM through distribution and WASH interventions.

“The humanitarian response in Assam incorporated MHM through distribution and WASH interventions.”

Young girls reported that they always went to water sources accompanied by elderly female family members.

“The young girls reported that they always went to the water sources accompanied by elderly female family members.”

• Also stated in: § Cyclone Phailin, Odisha, 2013 · p. 6 · plain

  “The young girls reported that they always went to the water sources accompanied by elderly female family members.”

In the post-disaster context in relief camps in Odisha, there was no privacy for women to maintain personal hygiene due to lack of space.

“In the post-disaster context in relief camps, there was no privacy for women to maintain personal hygiene due to lack of space.”

Those who preferred using sanitary napkins lacked the financial means to afford the pads in the local markets.

“Those who preferred using sanitary napkins lacked the financial means to afford the pads in the local markets.”

This soap was kept separate from other members of the household.

“This soap was kept separate from other members of the household.”

During floods in Assam, access to water points was difficult due to water inundation.

“During floods, access to water points was difficult due to water inundation.”

The common practice was to change in the dark while going for open defecation or while bathing near waterbodies, fields, or bushes.

“The common practice was to change in the dark, while they went for open defecation or while bathing near waterbodies, fields, or bushes.”

Based on thematic analysis of the empirical data, in Assam and Odisha the menstrual practices differed according to the cultural context, mobility, and age of the research participants.

“Based on thematic analysis of the empirical data, it emerged that in Assam and Odisha the menstrual practices differed according to the cultural context, mobility, and age of the research participants.”

The practice of cultural seclusion was believed to be undertaken to restrict menstruating females who were considered impure from polluting the household.

“This practice of cultural seclusion was believed to be undertaken to restrict the menstruating females who were considered impure from polluting the household.”

It was reported that the pads were burnt along with the garbage in their backyards.

“It was reported that the pads were burnt along with the garbage in their backyards.”

Findings from Odisha indicate differences in MHM preferences and practices based on geographical locations, household income, and livelihoods.

“The findings from Odisha indicate differences in MHM preferences and practices based on geographical locations, household income, and livelihoods.”

Within households that had more than one female member of menstruating age there were difficulties in sharing the limited resources for sanitary materials.

“Within households that had more than one female member of menstruating age there were difficulties in sharing the limited resources for sanitary materials.”

As a result, women travelled distances of 3-5 km in the dark (before sunrise or late at night) to cater to personal needs such as open defecation, changing menstrual cloths, and washing linen.

“As a result women travelled distances of 3-5 km in the dark (before sunrise or late in the night) to cater to their personal needs, such as open defecation, changing menstrual cloths, and washing linen.”

In order to avoid being seen, women would venture out in the early hours of the morning before sunrise or after dark.

“In order to avoid being seen, women would venture out in the early hours of the morning before sunrise or after the dark.”

In Odisha, in villages with easy access to local markets and township, 70 per cent of adolescent girls preferred using sanitary pads for the comfort they provided.

“In Odisha, in the villages with easy access to the local markets and township, 70 per cent of the adolescent girls preferred using sanitary pads for the comfort they provided.”

Humanitarian agencies installed privacy screens using tarpaulin sheets near the embankments for displaced households immediately after the 2012 floods in Assam.

“Humanitarian agencies installed privacy screens using tarpaulin sheets near the embankments for displaced households immediately after the floods in 2012.”

The cultural practices and seclusion of women and girls during menstruation were reported to have affected attendance in school.

“The cultural practices and seclusion of women and girls during menstruation was reported to have affected attendance in school.”

In these fishing households, 100 per cent of the female participants used old sarees as menstrual linen.

“Here, 100 per cent of the female participants used old sarees as menstrual linen.”

Affected families in Sonitpur and Morigaon received household hygiene kits including sanitary cloth, a string for tying, and a cloth bag for storage.

“The affected families in Sonitpur and Morigaon received household hygiene kits including sanitary cloth, a string (for tying), and a cloth bag for storage.”

The data show that menstrual health is overlooked post-disasters at the household level.

“The data show that menstrual health is overlooked post-disasters at the household level”

In Assam, the menstrual cloth was washed, dried, and reused each time.

“The study found that the menstrual cloth was washed, dried, and reused each time.”

The remaining participants, girls and women, used an old piece of cloth made using sarees or cotton linen.

“The remaining participants - girls and women - used an old piece of cloth, which was made using sarees or cotton linen.”

When not in use, the menstrual cloths and washing soap were hidden separately under the roof tile to prevent other household members from seeing or accidentally touching them.

“When not in use the menstrual cloths and washing soap were hidden separately under the roof tile, again to prevent other household members from seeing or accidently touching them.”

Primary observation data show that there were no provisions or separate toilets for girls in schools.

“The primary observation data show that there were no provisions or separate toilets for girls in schools.”

The lack of sanitation facilities and bathing spaces post-disasters affected women's comfort to change their menstrual cloths.

“The lack of sanitation facilities and bathing spaces post-disasters affected women's comfort to change their menstrual cloths.”

Humanitarian Agency A followed a similar standardized approach to menstrual hygiene in Odisha, including distribution of emergency hygiene kits to affected households containing sanitary cloth, string, bag, and detergent soap.

“The humanitarian Agency A followed a similar standardized approach to menstrual hygiene in Odisha. This included distribution of emergency hygiene kits to affected households, including sanitary cloth, string, bag, and detergent soap.”

As per local custom, 60 per cent of the female participants across Odisha used a separate soap for washing their menstrual cloth.

“As per local custom, 60 per cent of the female participants across Odisha used a separate soap for washing their menstrual cloth.”

100 per cent of the girls in Odisha were unaware of the disposal mechanisms for sanitary pads.

“100 per cent of the girls in Odisha were unaware of the disposal mechanisms for sanitary pads.”

The participants reported they had never used sanitary napkins, as they were expensive and unaffordable.

“The participants reported they had never used sanitary napkins, as they were expensive and unaffordable.”

In Assam, a piece of saree or any other cloth was used during menstruation.

“A piece of saree or any other cloth was used during menstruation.”

In relief camps in Assam, women found it difficult to attend to their menstrual hygiene needs because of the lack of private spaces for women to wash, dry, and change their menstrual cloths.

“While living in the relief camps women found it difficult to attend to their menstrual hygiene needs because of the lack of private spaces for women to wash, dry, and change their menstrual cloths.”

The lack of accessible and safe WASH facilities during disasters and recovery posed further challenges for women to fulfil household and personal WASH needs.

“The lack of accessible and safe WASH facilities during disasters and recovery posed further challenges for women to fulfil household and personal WASH needs.”

Cultural practices influenced the preference of using sanitary pads, napkins, or cloth.

“Cultural practices also influenced the preference of using sanitary pads, napkins, or cloth.”

Due to lack of awareness and knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene management, the adolescent girls relied on elderly wisdom and adopted cultural norms and practices.

“Due to lack of awareness and knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene management, the adolescent girls relied on elderly wisdom and adopted cultural norms and practices.”

With limited household income and increased poverty and food insecurity post-disasters, MHM was least prioritized at the household level.

“With limited household income and increased poverty and food insecurity post-disasters, MHM was least prioritized at the household level.”

In Assam and Odisha, female members had limited control, and sometimes no control, over household finances.

“In Assam and Odisha, female members had limited control, and sometimes no control, over household finances.”

This varied across the two case studies in Assam and Odisha according to age, caste, and livelihoods of the female participants and their access to the local markets and affordability of sanitary pads.

“This varied across the two case studies in Assam and Odisha according to age, caste, and livelihoods of the female participants and their access to the local markets and affordability of sanitary pads.”

These gender aspects in WASH during recovery were overlooked by the government and humanitarian actions.

“These gender aspects in WASH during recovery were overlooked by the government and humanitarian actions, an aspect noted in other research (O'Reilly, 2010; Sommer, 2012).”

• cites O'Reilly, 2010Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

• cites Sommer, 2012Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

This research demonstrated that MHM needs and experiences varied depending on the women's mobility, literacy levels, exposure or disabilities (if any), cultural practices, and post-disaster experiences in schools, homes or public places.

“This research demonstrated that MHM needs and experiences varied depending on the women's mobility, literacy levels, exposure or disabilities (if any), cultural practices, and post-disaster experiences in schools, homes or public places.”

The cultural practices of secluding women and girls during menstruation affected their daily activities and social performance.

“The cultural practices of secluding women and girls during menstruation affected their daily activities and social performance.”

Due to recurring disasters and damage to livelihoods and other pressing needs during recovery, the women-headed households did not use sanitary pads.

“However, due to recurring disasters and damage to livelihoods and other pressing needs during recovery, the women-headed households did not use sanitary pads.”

Post-disaster relief and recovery operations seldom focus on women's priorities regarding menstrual hygiene.

“Post-disaster relief and recovery operations seldom focus on women's priorities regarding menstrual hygiene.”

• Also stated in: § Menstrual hygiene: a 'silent' need during disaster recovery · p. 1 · plain

  “Addressing menstrual hygiene needs remains a critical gap in recovery programming, however.”

• cites Brown et al., 2012Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

• cites Sommer, 2012Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Since a separate washing soap was used for cleaning menstrual linen, a fall in household income post-disasters adversely affected women's ability to maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards during menstruation.

“Since a separate washing soap was used for cleaning menstrual linen, a fall in household income post-disasters adversely affected women's ability to maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards during menstruation.”

The need for women to travel distances in the dark to attend to personal needs posed a security risk for female household members.

“This posed a security risk for female household members.”

The installation of privacy screens enabled female community members to address their personal needs and privacy to wash their menstrual linen.

“This enabled the female community members to address their personal needs and privacy to wash their menstrual linen.”

Menstrual hygiene management is integral to women's privacy and safety during recovery.

“This article presents empirical findings related to menstrual hygiene management (MHM), demonstrating it is integral to women's privacy and safety during recovery.”

This limited control over household finances influenced women's ability to purchase sanitary materials, even when these were available in the markets.

“This influenced their ability to purchase sanitary materials, even when these were available in the markets.”