Cultural beliefs.
Menstruation in India has always been accompanied by myths and taboos and adolescent girls find it difficult to even discuss the issue with parents or elders in the family. Most of them turn to their teaching staff for advice on menstrual hygiene.
Mohana is fourteen and her menstrual cycle began when she was barely ten years old. “I have been using cloth as pads till then and I used to wash them for reuse,” she says embarrassed.
The girl students of the rural school are now aware of the reproductive tract infections and of the menstrual hygiene practices that need to be followed during the menstrual days. “I used to change my napkin after 12 hours but now I have realized the importance of changing it at least every 5 hours from the talk the doctors gave us,” twelve-year-old Rajeswari tells us.
Nemmeli School girl students have understood that personal hygiene especially during the menstrual cycle is even more vital and have decided not to go back to their earlier unhygienic habits.
What will you teach Mohana and her classmates?
What are the safety concerns?
What will you teach them about sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
How are Indian menstrual practices different from United States menstrual practices?