BARRIERS TO ACCESS MENSTRUAL HYGIENE IN RURAL INDIA

Menstruation continues to remain a topic that is not openly spoken about in India. Majority of the adolescent girls do not have adequate knowledge about puberty and menstruation resulting in poor menstrual hygiene management. This study aims to understand the barriers to access menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in rural India. It was conducted among a sample of 35 adolescent girls in the age group 14-20 years in Villages Ucchera and Banjari of Madhya Pradesh. The survey focused on how much awarenessthe girls had before and after menarche; availability and use of feminine hygiene products in the area; access to facilities; and religious barriers placed on their activities during menstruation. The study stresses on the need for education on menstruation among mothers and adolescent girls and for classes on the same in the school curriculum. Ultimately, the research juxtaposes its results to the rural villages in Madhya Pradesh, keeping in mind the limitations of such a study.