Abstract
Menstruation frequently poses psychological, social, and health challenges for young women living in low- and middle-income countries. In countries such as India, where menstruation is stigmatised, it can be particularly difficult. This paper examines challenges related to menstruation for young women living in slums in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The research was informed by the socio-ecological model. Life course interviews were conducted with 70 young women ages 15–24 living in the slums of Lucknow. Thematic analysis was used to identify salient themes regarding individual, social, and systemic challenges related to menstruation. On the individual level, young women lack knowledge about menstruation. In the social sphere, young women experience stigma around menstruation, lack opportunities to discuss menstruation, and experience limitations around mobility and other activities during menstruation. At the institutional level, for example in school, there are few resources to support menstruating young women as toilets are dirty and doors are broken. Therefore, menstruating adolescents and young women in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, face an array of challenges at multiple levels. These findings suggest that multi-level interventions are warranted to create a supportive context for menstruation.
Highlights
Specific menstrual hygiene management (MHM) challenges faced by young women in schools include: inadequately clean and safe bathrooms, lack of running water and menstrual supplies, and teasing from male peers and teachers about menstruation.[1,6,9]
This paper examines the challenges associated with menstruation among young women living in the slums of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
This paper focuses on life course interviews conducted with young people ages 15–24 living in Lucknow slums
Summary
The onset of menstruation can be challenging for young women living in low- and middle-income countries.[1]. Many young women lack resources for safely managing menstruation at home and in school, such as private bathrooms with clean water.[2,3]. Menarche is associated with higher rates of school dropout among young women.[1,4]. School dropout can be due to multiple factors, including social pressure to marry and bear children with the onset of menses[3,4] and the difficulties of managing menstruation at school.[5–8]. Specific menstrual hygiene management (MHM) challenges faced by young women in schools include: inadequately clean and safe bathrooms, lack of running water and menstrual supplies, and teasing from male peers and teachers about menstruation.[1,6,9]. Education confers numerous health and wellbeing benefits on young women, including increased access to health care,[10,11] higher age at marriage and lower fertility rates,[12,13] and lower risk of experiencing intimate partner violence.[13,14] Many young women lack resources for safely managing menstruation at home and in school, such as private bathrooms with clean water.[2,3] In some countries, menarche is associated with higher rates of school dropout among young women.[1,4] School dropout can be due to multiple factors, including social pressure to marry and bear children with the onset of menses[3,4] and the difficulties of managing menstruation at school.[5–8] Specific menstrual hygiene management (MHM) challenges faced by young women in schools include: inadequately clean and safe bathrooms, lack of running water and menstrual supplies, and teasing from male peers and teachers about menstruation.[1,6,9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
