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.


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.


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.




Number of 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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Number of 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).


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


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


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.


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

www.share-netbangladesh.org

menstrual hygiene management (mhm) in bangladesh

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