Menstrual socialization a study of post menarche phenomenon amongst adolescent girls in Chandigarh

Abstract

Menstruation is a radical biological phenomenon occurring in the life of almost half of the world population including women, transgender men and non-binary people. Menstruation is no longer just a hygiene issue but a multi-faceted health issue that needs to be addressed through positive socialisation. A healthy and hygienic menstruating body is the basis of reproductive health of a woman. Menstrual hygiene management is a pivotal concern for adolescent girls and hinders their participation in daily events, post menarche. The lack of scientific information among adolescent girls, prevailing myths, taboos and stigma, affect their physical and psychological wellbeing (WASH, 2018). The awareness on menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is considered inevitable, as it determines pathways for the holistic participation. The proposed study intends to understand the impact of socialization of menstrual phenomenon on menstruating adolescent girls, using feminist framework. With mixed method approach, the study attempts to evaluate the existing information on menstruation; and perception about menstruating bodies. The study further aims to establish a relation between scientific information on menstruation, imparted among adolescent girls and menstrual hygiene and management. It would undertake primary data collection from schools, at three level pre-test, intervention and post-test assessment of selected adolescent girls, based on experimental descriptive research design. It further examines other stakeholders under investigation school going boys, teachers, doctors, counsellors, programme implementers and parents of menstruating girls in Chandigarh. newline