MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT (MHM) IN BANGLADESH
Transcript of MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT (MHM) IN BANGLADESH
www.share-netbangladesh.org
AN ANALYSIS OF THE MHM INTERVENTIONS
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT (MHM) IN BANGLADESH
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH III
Share-Net Bangladesh Team
PREPARED BY:
PHOTOGRAPHYSabuj Miah, RedOrange Media and Communications, Bangladesh
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SHARE-NET BANGLADESH V
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABBREVIATIONS VII
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IX
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Objectivesofthestudy 2
2. METHODOLOGY 3
2.1 Inclusioncriteria 4
2.2 Share-NetBangladeshandCoPactivities 4
3. RESULT AND FINDINGS 5
3.1 Districtscoveringtheinterventions 5
3.2 Listoftheorganisationsandpotentialdonors 6
3.3 Specialfeaturesoftheongoingprojects 8
3.3.1Productpreferences 9
3.3.2Supplyofhygieneproductsfromtheprojects 10
3.3.3Focusoftheongoinginterventions 10
3.3.4MaleParticipation 11
3.4Discussionfindings 11
4. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 14
5. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 15
REFERENCES 16
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SHARE-NET BANGLADESH VII
ABBREVIATIONSMHM MenstrualHygieneManagement
WB WorldBank
DGFP DirectorateGeneralofFamilyPlanning
SDG SustainableDevelopmentGoal
UNICEF UnitedNationsChildren’sEmergencyFund
WHO WorldHealthOrganisation
PMNCH PartnershipforMaternal,Newborn&ChildHealth
BBS BangladeshBureauofStatistics
WASH Water,SanitationandHygiene
SRHR SexualandReproductiveHealthandRights
CoP CommunityofPractice
BNPS BangladeshNariProgatiSangha
HP HopeforthePoorest
SERAA Socio-EconomicandRuralAdvancementAssociation
DORP DevelopmentOrganisationoftheRuralPoor
icddr,b InternationalCentreforDiarrhoealDiseaseResearch,Bangladesh
ASA AssociationforSocialAdvancement
BNFE BureauofNon-FormalEducation(BNFE)
UNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme
MJF ManusherJonnoFoundation
IDRF ICTDevelopmentandResearchFoundation
WIN WaterIntegrityNetwork
DFAT DepartmentofForeignAffairsandTrade
UNHCR nitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees
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IOM InternationalOrganizationforMigration
GAC GlobalAffairsCanada
SIDA SwedishInternationalDevelopmentCooperationAgency
EKN EmbassyoftheKingdomoftheNetherlands
WOF WeaveourFuture
BAPSA AssociationforPreventionofSepticAbortion
SDA SocietyDevelopmentAgency
KOICA KoreaInternationalCooperationAgency
DSK DushthaShasthyaKendra
GCC GulfCooperationCouncil
IKEA IngvarKampradElmtarydAgunnaryd
WOP WaterOperatorPartnership
CARE CooperativeforAssistanceandReliefEverywhere
KNH KinderNotHilfe
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH IX
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYMenstruationormensesisthenaturalbodilyprocessofreleasingbloodandassociatedmatterfromtheuterusthroughthevaginaaspartofthemenstrualcycle.1MenstrualHygieneManagement(MHM)isthekeyhygieneprocessforwomentomaintainduringtheirmenstrualcycleeverymonth,whichisanintegralpartoftheirreproductivehealthandoverallwell-being.
Multiplefactorshindertheproperhygienemanagementinvolvingthisnaturalphenomenonwhichnotonlyaffectsthehealthofwomenbutalsotheirrightstoequalityandempowerment.AccordingtotheWorldBank(2019),over500millionwomenandgirlsgloballylivewithoutadequatefacilitiesofmenstrualhygienemanagement.Therearemorethan32millionadolescents(10-19yearsold)inBangladesh(DGFP2026)andhalfofthemaregirlsandneedspecialattentionduringtheirmenstruationcycle.Moreover,approximately1.3and2.3milliongirlsarelivingwithdisabilities,whoaredependentoncaregiversfortheirMHM.
TounderstandthecontextoftheMHMsituationandrelevantinterventionsinBangladesh,Share-NetBangladesh(SNBD)conductedaresearchstudy.Theaimofthisstudyistherefore,togenerateacriticalanalysisofMHMinterventionsconsideringthetargetgroups,geographicalpresence,disabilityinclusion,andthemethodofthoseinterventions.
Theresultshowsthatthecurrentandpastinterventionsmainlycoveratotal28districtsoutofalldistrictsinBangladesh.Around17organisationshaveongoingactivitieswithatotalof51interventions/projects.51%ofthesecurrentlyongoinginterventionsfocusonawarenessraisingandanother36%involvedinMHMmaterialsupply.ThestudyalsolookedintothedonorperspectiveincaseofMHMinterventionsandanalysed
1 UNICEF(2019)GuidanceonMenstrualHealthandHygiene.Availableathttps://www.unicef.org/media/91341/file/UNICEF-Guidance-menstrual-health-hygiene-2019.pdf
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therequiredfundforcreatingawarenessandbreakingtabooregardingmenstruation.
Furtheron,theanalysiscoversthespecialfeaturesoftheongoingprojects,menstrualproductpreferences,supplyofthehygieneproducts,focusareasoftheongoinginterventionsandtheinvolvementofmeninthoseprojects/interventions.Moreover,asetofspecificfindingsfromtheonlinediscussionhavebeenincludedinthereport,maleinvolvement,policyofthegovernment,roleofmedia,COVID-19crisis,roleofschools,priceandavailabilityofhygieneproducts,mythandculturalinfluencesandMHMinclusioninSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs).
Thestudyprovidesrecommendations,namelycommunity-basedoutreachprogrammes,focusingonMHMinschools,thesupplychainmanagementofthehygieneproductsandsoonforeffectiveresultsinensuringproperhygienemanagement.Tomaketheinterventionsandprojectsmoreinclusive,effortsaimedatleaving‘noonebehind’arebeingundertaken,forgirlswithdisabilitiesaswellsotheyhavebetteraccessibilityandsafetyinusingschoolfacilities.Girlswithdisabilitiesneedtobeprioritisedinimplementingtheprojects.
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH 1
1. INTRODUCTIONMenstrualhealthhasbecomeaglobalpublichealthconcernwhiletheissueposesseverehealthconcernsforwomeningeneral.In2012,WorldHealthOrganisation(WHO)andUnitedNationsInternationalChildren’sEmergencyFund(UNICEF)JointMonitoringProgramme(JMP)definedMenstrualHygieneManagement(MHM)astheprocesswhere-‘womenandadolescentgirlsareusingacleanmenstrualmanagementmaterialtoabsorborcollectmenstrualblood,thatcanbechangedinprivacyasoftenasnecessaryforthedurationofamenstrualperiod,usingsoapandwaterforwashingthebodyasrequired,andhavingaccesstosafeandconvenientfacilitiestodisposeofusedmenstrualmanagementmaterials.Theyunderstandthebasicfactslinkedtothemenstrualcycleandhowtomanageitwithdignityandwithoutdiscomfortorfear.’(UNICEF2019)
Evidencerevealedthatover500millionwomenandgirlsgloballylivewithoutadequatefacilitiesofmenstrualhygienemanagement(WB2019).Inadequacyremainsintheavailabilityofseparatetoiletsforgirls,safedisposalofusedsanitarypads,waterforwashinghandsandmaintenanceofmenstrualhygieneinaprivate,safeanddignifiedmanner.Ontheotherhand,poormenstrualhygieneislinkedtolackofeducation,persistingtaboosandstigma,limitedaccesstohygienicmenstrualproductsandpoorsanitationinfrastructure.Hence,thepoormanagementofmenstrualhygienecouldcreatevariousformsofobstaclesformillionsofwomenandgirlsthateventuallycauseobstaclestoreachtheirfullpotential(PMNCH2020).
Therearemorethan32millionadolescents(10-19yearsold)inBangladeshwhichaccountsforabout21%ofthepopulation(DGFP2026).Halfofthoseadolescentsaregirlsandneedspecialattentionduringtheirmenstruationcycle.Inoursociety,menstruationisatabooissueandasaresultitleadsto
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poorpersonalhygieneandconsequentlycomplicateddiseaseforfemalesinBangladesh.
Undoubtedly,MHMisevenmorechallengingforwomenandgirlswithdisabilities.Thisisprimarilyduetotheirdependencyonacaretakertomanagetheirmenstruation,andtheabsenceofinclusivetoiletsnotevenathome,letaloneinpublicplaceswheretheyhavethepossibilitytoroamaround.Around9%to16%ofpeoplelivewithdisabilitiesand/oranyformoffunctionallimitations,amongwhomapproximately1.3and2.3milliongirlsarelivingwithdisabilities.AccordingtotheNationalTaskforceonDisabilities-friendlyDisasterManagementAffairs,15,93,070peopleareregisteredaspeoplewithdisabilitiesinBangladesh(2018).However,thisnationaldatasetisnotsegregatedaccordingtogenderandeconomicstatus(BangladeshBureauofStatistics2015).
TounderstandthecontextofMHMsituationandrelevantinterventions,Share-NetBangladesh(SNBD)asapartoftheirongoingadvocacyactivities,conductedastudytofindoutthenatureofMHMinterventionsinBangladesh.ThestudyaimedtogenerateacriticalanalysisofMHMinterventionsconsideringthetargetgroups,geographicalpresence,disabilityinclusion,andmethodofinterventions.
1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
• Tocollate,summarise,andcriticallyappraiseandanalyseMHMrelatedinterventions;
• Togenerateapictureonavailabilityofresources,anindicativemapwheretheinterventionsaretakingplaceandtheareaswhichstillrequirethecoverageofintervention;
• Tofindthescopeofinclusionofgirls/personswithdisabilitiesineachoftheinterventions;and
• TodeveloparesourcedocumentonMHMinterventionsinBangladesh.
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH 3
Thestudyfollowedamixedmethodapproach.AstructuredquestionnairehasbeendevelopedandsharedamongtheMHMpractitionersworkinginthecountryforquantitativeinformationandagroupdiscussionwasconductedamongthepractitionersforqualitativedatacollection.
Toconductthisstudy,Share-NetBangladesh(SNBD)hasreachedouttotheMHMplatformofBangladesh.TheMHMplatformisanopencoordinationbodywhereallthememberNGOsworkingwithMHMareinvitedtobethemembersothattheycancontinuetoplayaroleofcoordinationamongthreesectorsofWASH,SRHRandMHMtogeneratesynergyforcombinedcontribution.Theplatformopenstheavenueofworkandsharesthebestpracticesinacommonstagesothatthememberscouldbenefiteachother.Thestudyusedapurposivesample.Forthesurvey,35organisationswerecommunicatedwhoaretheexistingmembersoftheMHMplatformamongwhom17responded.ItshouldbenotedthattheMHMplatformhas35memberorganisationswithexperienceinMHMrelatedinterventionsinBangladesh.Astructuredquestionnaire(questionswerebothopenandclosedended)hasbeendevelopedandsharedwiththeorganisation’sfocalpersonthroughemail.
Afollowupmeetingwiththerespondentswasadministeredontheonlinesurvey,sharingthefindingstogenerateintensivedialogue.Thedynamicgroupofdiscussantsprovidedin-depthinsightontheMHMinterventions,17participantsactivelycontributedinonlinediscussion.
2. METHODOLOGY
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2.1 INCLUSION CRITERIATheinclusioncriteriafortherespondentswere-
• OrganisationsworkingwithMHMand/orMHMwithdisabilities
• OrganisationswhoareplanningtoexpandtheirfocusonMHMorreceivedanyfundtoworkonMHM
• MemberoftheMHMplatform
2.2 SHARE-NET BANGLADESH AND COP ACTIVITIES
Share-NetBangladeshisthecountryhubofShare-NetInternational,aKnowledgePlatformfocusingonSexualandReproductiveHealthandRights(SRHR).Share-NetBangladeshisthefirstofShare-NetInternational’scountryhubs,drawingontheyearsofexperiencesandinterventionsbypractitioners,researchers,andpolicymakersinthefieldofsexualreproductivehealth,especiallyplacingSRHRatthecentreofhumanrights.Share-NetBangladeshhas142130individualmembersand10276memberorganisations.Share-NetBangladeshishostedbyRedOrangeMediaandCommunications.
Share-NetBangladeshbringstogethertheCommunitiesofPractice(CoP)thatconsistofsocialandmedicalresearchers,developmentpractitioners,healthworkers,governmentofficialsandlegalexpertstoengagewithoneanothertofindsolutionsandtakecriticalissuesforward.
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH 5
3. RESULT AND FINDINGS
3.1 DISTRICTS COVERING THE INTERVENTIONS
ThestudytriedtocapturethedistrictswheretheMHMinterventionshavetakenoraretakingplace.Theresultsshowthatthecurrentandpastinterventionsmainlycoverthefollowing28districtsoutofall64districtsofBangladesh.
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Thestudyfoundthataround17organisationshaveongoingactivitieswithatotalof51interventions/projects.51%ofthesecurrentlyongoinginterventionsfocusonawarenessraisingandanother36%involvedinMHMmaterialsupply.ThestudyalsolookedintothedonorperspectiveincaseofMHMinterventionsandanalysedtherequiredfundforcreatingawarenessandbreakingtabooregardingmenstruation.
3.2 LIST OF THE ORGANISATIONS AND POTENTIAL DONORS
TheorganisationsandpotentialdonorsthatthestudyfoundtohaveactiveinterventionsandfundsforMenstrualHygieneManagement(MHM)arelisteddownbelow.
Table 1: ListoftheorganizationsandpotentialdonorsforMHMinterventions
SlName of Organisations
Length of intervention
Number of projects
Donor of the projects
1 Wreetu 4 1 NationalandInternationaldonor
2 BangladeshNariProgatiSangha(BNPS)
4 3 AmplifyChange/Simavi
3 HopeforthePoorest(HP)
5 2 ASA/DutchWASHAlliance
4 SERAA 20 2 BNFE-GOB/UNDP/MJF/IDRF.
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH 7
SlName of Organisations
Length of intervention
Number of projects
Donor of the projects
5 DORP 8 2 WaterIntegrityNetwork(WIN/SIMAVI)
6 Oxfam 12 2 DFAT
7 BRAC 12 1projectrunning(crosscutting)
Charity:water/UNHCR/UNICEF/IOM/GAC
8 PracticalActioninBangladesh
10 MHMismainstreamed
Ownfinance
9 PlanInternationalBangladesh
12 5 SIDA/EuropeanUnion/GAC
10 SOLIDARITY 2 2 UKAIDInternationalParenthoodFederation/HandicapInternational/RedOrangeLimited
11 icddr,b 8 4
12 SNVNetherlandsDevelopmentOrganisation
6 1 EKN/WOF
13 BAPSA(AssociationforPreventionofSepticAbortion,Bangladesh)
8 3 UNICEF/EKN/Sida
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SlName of Organisations
Length of intervention
Number of projects
Donor of the projects
14 SocietyDevelopmentAgency(SDA)
9 3 SavetheChildren/AhmedFamilyFundUSA/Habitat/KOICA-HA
15 MaxFoundation 8 2 EKN/AquaforAll/GCC/WoordenDard
16 DushthaShasthyaKendra(DSK)
6 13 Water1stInternational/WaterAid/EKN/IKEAfoundationviaRutgers/WOP/CARE/Unicef/IOM/KNH
17 SERAC-Bangladesh 5 3 AmplifyChange
18 RedOrangeMediaandCommunications
2 AmplifyChange
3.3 SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE ONGOING PROJECTS
Thestudytriedtofindoutthespecialfeaturesoftheongoingprojects.Itfoundthat67%ofprojectsinvolveprivatesectorsand89%ofthemincludemen/boysintheproject.89%oftheprojectssomehowinvolvethegirlswithdisabilitiesintheprojectbutonly47%ofthemcovertheMHneedsofadolescentgirlswithdisabilities.79%ofthemsaidthattheyensuredisabilityfriendlytoiletsforgirlsinvolvedintheprojects.63%oftheprojectshaveinterventionsonurbanslums.Only28%projectscollectdisabilitydesegregateddatafromtheirintervention(s).
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH 9
Figure 1: Specialfeaturesoftheongoingprojects/interventionsonMHM
Figure 2:Menstrualproductpreferencesamongfemalesinvolvedintheprojects
Pad
Cloth
Didn’t Answer
5%
32%
63%
3.3.1 PRODUCT PREFERENCES
Thestudytriedtofindtheproductpreferenceofthewomeninvolvedintheprojects.Resultsshowthat63%ofthemprefertousesanitarynapkins/pads.
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3.3.2 SUPPLY OF HYGIENE PRODUCTS FROM THE PROJECTS
Theparticipantsofthestudywereaskedabouttheprobationofsupplyingsanitaryproductsfromtheprojects.Itwasfoundthatonly39%oftheprojectsprovidesuchproductswithintheprojectcapacity.
Figure 3:Percentagesofhygieneproductsuppliesfromtheprojects
Figure 4: Focusareasofongoinginterventions
Provide sanitary products
Do not provide sanitary products
61%
39%
3.3.3 FOCUS OF THE ONGOING INTERVENTIONS
Thefollowinggraphshowsthepercentageoffocusareasoftheongoinginterventions.51%oftheprojectsfocusonawarenessraisingactivities.DisseminationofMHMrelatediscoveredby45%projects,36%ofthemdistributeMHMrelatedhygieneproducts,27%ofthemhaveanin-builtcomponentofpromotionofthehygieneproducts,22%ofthemkeepthemselvesengagedinproductdevelopmentandonly19%ofthemworkforpolicyreformation.
51% 22% 36% 45% 19%27%
awareness raising
product development
promotion of product
use
MHM hygiene material and
supply
MHM information
Dissemination
policy reform
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH 11
23% 15% 24% 14% 8% 17%
Father Brother Husband Male Friends Male Caregiver
Male Teacher
Figure 5: Maleparticipationrateintheprojects
3.3.4 MALE PARTICIPATION
Theintervieweeswereaskedaboutthemaleparticipationintheprojects.Amongwhom90%saidtheyinvolvemenatdifferentstagesoftheprojectimplementationinvariouscapacities.Thefollowingfigurereflectsthatinmostcasesfathersandhusbandsaretobeinvolvedintheprojectimplementation.
3.4 DISCUSSION FINDINGSOtherthanthegoogleformtheonlinediscussionfindingsalsoopenedcriticalissuesthatneedtobeaddressedtoensureinclusiveMHMpractice.
Male involvement: Inthediscussionsession,participantsputemphasisoninvolvingmalesandcommunitypeopleintheMHMinterventiontohavesustainableresults.Theparticipantsalsoraisedtheissueofinvolvingparentsintheprogramtohaveaneffectiveoutcome.
Policy of the Government: Thediscussionalsosuggestedlobbyingwiththegovernmentandtheschoolmanagementtoensuremenstrual-friendlytoilets(MHM-friendlytoilets)
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inschools.Moreover,thediscussionpointedoutthatallthegovernmentstrategiesshouldincludetheissueofthegirlswithdisabilitiestohaveinclusiveresults.Thediscussantsalsosaidthatonlyinformationcannotchangebehavior,italsorequiresproperexecutionandpractice.Structuralservice-relatedworks,forexample,MHMproductsandMHM-friendlytoiletscouldbringpositivechange.
Role of media: Massmediaandsocialmediacanalsoplayavitalroletoraiseawarenessacrossthecommunity.ExpandingawarenessandcampaignsthroughtheuseofInformationandCommunicationTechnologies(ICT)anddigitaltechnologiesisimportantnow-a-days.Ontheotherhandtheparticipantstalkedaboutdigitalmappingoftheinterventions.Suchmappingshouldbephysicalandintellectualdisabilityinclusive.Theissueofmaleparticipationshouldalsobeincludedinthestrategies.
COVID-19 crisis: Inanotherpartofthediscussion,thematterofavailabilityofthehygieneproductwasraisedprominently.Theparticipantsrecommendedthatthenapkins/padsmustbewithinthereachofthemasspeople,especiallyinthecontextoffloodandCOVID-19.
Role of school: Whilediscussingtheroleofschool,theyexpressedthatschoolscanplayasignificantrole.Awarenessatschoolsisveryimportant.Orientationinschools,i.e.orientingteachers,iscrucialtandshouldbetargeted.Thus,studentscanbeawarethatmenstruationisnotanytaboo,ratherapartoflife.Femalestudentsshyawayfromdiscussingthetopic.Theymissoutschoolattendancefor4to5dayswhichultimatelyresultinschooldropoutleadingtoearlymarriageandalsoearlypregnancy.
Prices and availability of hygiene products: Thepriceandavailabilityofhygieneproductsisanotherchallenge.Local(desi)MHMproductsarescarce.TheorganisationnamedWreetusaidtheysupplyMHMproductsatKhulna,SatkhiraandBholaandfewfloodaffectedareas.Accordingtotheirexperience,theyrecommendedthattelemedicineservice
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH 13
couldbemadefreeandavailableforadolescentgirlswheretheycanhavehygieneknowledge.Theyalsoproposedlocalfolksongsthatcouldhelpmanygirlsandpregnantwomentohavecorrectknowledge.
TheorganizationnamedSNVsaidthattheymainlyworkwithgarmentworkers.TheplaceswhichstillcannotreachintermsofMHM,thebehavioralchangecanbefoundwheremaleinvolvementisconcerned.Sensitization,gender-friendlyenvironmenthastobemadeforthegarmentworkersintheirworkingenvironment.
Myth and cultural influence: Theparticipantsalsodiscussedsomeexistingmythslikedietaryrestrictions,prohibitionofeatingfish,meat,tamarind,etc.thatcouldcreatelong-termhealthconcerns.ThoughtfullydesignedSocialandBehaviourChangeCommunication(SBCC)campaignsandmaterialdevelopmentareneededatthemasslevelinthelongterm.DuetolackofMHMfacilities,constantscenarioslikemovementrestrictionsoccur;thiscreateslowconfidenceandpooresteemamongadolescentgirls.Thisisahindrancetoadolescents’growth,triggeringdropschool,absentfromschoolswhentheygothroughmenstruation.MHMfacilitieshavetobeplacedinschools,commercialcomplexes,andtravellingplaces.PublictoiletshavetomakeMHMfriendlyforwash,changeanddisposal.Environmentallyandscientificallythedisposablehastobeformedandimplemented.Trainingofyounggirls,evenbeforetheageofmenstruation,hastobeincludedinthecurriculum.‘Thecultureofsilence’hastobeconfronted.Freevendingmachinescanbeimplementedinthisregard.Ifbookscanbeprovidedforfreethenfreenapkinsshouldalsobeprovided.
MHM and SDG: TheparticipantssaidthatSDGshavealreadymainstreamedMHM.WithoutincludingMHMfacilitiesintoSDGsaswellasnationalstrategies,itisneverpossibletocreateequalityandwomenempowerment.PlansofoperationshouldbeincludedinMHMimplementationdirectly,likesafewater,waterforwashinghands,spacioustoiletsforgirls.
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4. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
AsweallarecommittedtotheglobalagendaofSDGs,theSDGsarehighlyfocusedonwomenandgirls.ItisindeedimportanttosetupastrongmonitoringsystemtoobserveschoolbasedWASHfacilities.
Community-basedoutreachprogrammes,alongsidethefocusonMHMinschools,couldprovideeffectivesolutions.Thesupplychainmanagementofthehygieneproductsisalsoanimportantelementofsuchprojects.Alongside,theprivatesectorinvolvementneedstobeunfolded,whichisfoundlowinthestudyresult.Ontheotherhand,locallymadecosteffectiveeco-friendlyMHMmaterialshouldbeavailableinthemarkettocoveralargenumberofuserbases.
Noprojectorinterventionwillresultastobeeffectiveandsustainableifadequatemaleparticipationisnotensured.Maleespeciallythemalemembersinthefamilies,couldcontributealottochangemaking.Massmediacampaignsonawarenessbuildingcouldoffereffectiveresultsinthisregard.
Effortsaimedatleaving‘noonebehind’areunderway,includingbetteraccessibilityandsafetyofschoolfacilitiesincludingforgirlswithdisabilities.Alltheprogramsshouldincludegirlswithdisabilitiesintheprojectwithaprioritybasis.
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH 15
5. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
ThestudywasconductedasapartoftheCommunityofPractice(CoP)contributiontowardstheongoingactivitiesofShare-netBangladeshaimingtodevelopknowledgeproductsaroundaspecifictheme.Alimitedfinancialscopewastheretoconductawiderresearch.Moreover,itwasatimeboundassignmenttoaccomplish.AsthestudywasconductedduringtheCOVID-19pandemic,itwasnotpossibleforthestudyteamtoreachoutthepractitionersinpersontogatherin-depthprogrammaticinformation.Thestudytriedtoincludeallthe35membersoftheMHMplatform,however17membersrespondedintheonlinedatacollectionresponseandparticipatedinthediscussion.Theriskremainstomissoutprojectsandprogramsthathavebeenimplementedinruralandperipheralareas.
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REFERENCES
UNICEF2019,Guidetomenstrualhygienematerials.Availableathttps://www.unicef.org/media/91346/file/UNICEF-Guide-menstrual-hygiene-materials-2019.pdf
UNICEF2019,GuidanceonMenstrualHealthandHygiene.Availableathttps://www.unicef.org/media/91341/file/UNICEF-Guidance-menstrual-health-hygiene-2019.pdf
WorldBank2019,#ItsTimeForAction:InvestinginMenstrualHygieneManagementistoInvestinHumanCapital.Availableathttps://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/05/24/menstrual-hygiene-day-2019
PMNCH2020,Menstrualhygieneandhealth-acallfordignity,rightsandempowerment.Availableathttps://www.who.int/pmnch/media/news/2020/menstrual_hygiene_health/en/
DGFP2026,NationalStrategyforAdolescentHealth2017-2030.Availableathttps://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/sites/unicef.org.bangladesh/files/2018-10/National-Strategy-for-Adolescent-Health-2017-2030.pdf
BangladeshBureauofStatistics2015,DISABILITYINBANGLADESH:PrevalenceandPattern.Availableathttp://203.112.218.65:8008/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/PopMonographs/disabilityFinal.pdf
SHARE-NET BANGLADESH 17
www.share-netbangladesh.org