Sharing simple facts - Useful information about menstrual health and hygiene

This guidance booklet on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is intended for adolescent girls and young women. Issues associated with menstruation are never discussed openly and the silence surrounding menstruation burdens young girls by keeping them ignorant of this biological function. Even after the attainment of menarche, very little information is given to young girls about the physiological processes
involved and the hygienic practices to be followed.

This booklet provides information on how to handle menstruation, improve their knowledge of personal hygiene and boost their confidence by answering their unanswered questions. It also provides information on the facts, myths and taboos surrounding this issue. It is a compulsory read for adolescent girls and women, equally for facilitators, teachers and peer educators.

Overall the absence of MHM in the policy debate and hence in investments and action, is striking. This points to a glaring need to highlight this issue in the policy debate together with practical work on what adolescent girls and women require to manage their menstrual needs in terms of materials, education and facilities for management and disposal. Gender sensitivity in health, hygiene and sanitation needs of women and adolescent girls is a critical input required to be integrated in the Government of India’s Total Sanitation Campaign, the National Rural Health Mission, Kishori Shakti Yojana and other such programmes. A coordinated effort will reach many more women and it is hoped that this book on “Menstrual Hygiene Management” will be utilized by all agencies concerned with women welfare and empowerment issues.

Bibliographic information

UNICEF (2008). Sharing simple facts - Useful information about menstrual health and hygiene. UNICEF India

Filter tags

East Asia & Pacific English Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) Schools

Download