It’s a Burden on Head: Understanding Menstrual Hygiene Management and Period Poverty Perspective in the Climatic Disaster Region of Sundarban in India

Puja Das, PhD Research Scholar

Menstrual hygiene is particularly important during climatic disasters. This study examines the issue of period poverty and the management of menstrual hygiene in the disaster-prone area in Sundarban region of India. The study included 220 young adult women aged 15-34 year from the villages comes under the Sundarban region. A mixed-method approach was adopted to collect data. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, PCA, and binary logistic regression. The qualitative data analysed with thematic analysis. The study examined period poverty and menstrual hygiene management scale as outcome variables. The results showed that only 41 percent of women could afford period products, while 58 percent experienced period poverty. Several factors were associated with period poverty, including prior knowledge about menstruation, age at menarche, attitudes towards menstruation, accessibility of sanitation facilities, and affordability of menstrual products. Furthermore, only 23.1 percent women have adequate menstrual hygiene practices while 76.8 percent of women who have inadequate menstrual hygiene practices. The study suggests the importance of ensuring the affordability of sanitary pads and accessibility of WASH management in disaster-prone areas.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Health and Morbidity

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